The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-05-31
TWO CHALLENGES LEFT.
Selection of a Haywood Jury Is Near
ing Completion.

Boise. Idaho, May 31.-The first
taIesman drawn from the new special
venire issued in the Steunenburg muir
der trial qualified as a juror this morn
ing and opened the way to the exer-
else of the 18th peremptOry challenge
He is J. A. Robertson, a contractor and
builder of Boise In the alternate use
of challenges the eighteenth was with
the defense and IT excused Harmon
Cox, the veteran. whom it sought to
disqualify on Monday Two challenges,
one for each side, remain unused
Mrs Haywood and her daughters
came to court this morning and for the
first time since the trial began, she
sat Immediately beside the prisoner
After recess for three days. the trial
was resumed this morning. Sixty
one new talesmen were in court and
it is expected that the jury viii be
completed by tomorrow night
Fifteen members of the new panel
pleaded statutory excuses to Judge
Wood. but he granted only five of the
applications leaving Sc men to draw
the remainder of the jury from The
first task of counsel Was to fill va
ninth chalIenge
j. A. Robertson vas called to the
empty chair aid his good humor in
answering questions conNulsed the
court room at times Robertson. now
a farmer, was formerly carpenter
and builder. Governor Steunenberg
boarded at his house during part
of the time he was chief executive of
the state. This fact, however the
taIesman declared. had created no pre-
judice in his mind against the man on
trial for the murder. He said he felt
he could do equal and exact Justice
as between the state and the defen-
daut. and would give the latter the
benefit of every reasonable doubt. A
Republican ever since Grants first
term, Robertson said he had taken no
interest in socialism When asked
where he was born, Robertson decIar-
ed:
It was born in that grand little
country where they raise honest men
and bonnie Iassfes--seotland-
Always Thirteen.
He left Scotland at 13 years of age,
went to Canada and lived there Is
years. then came to the United States
and lived in Illinois 13 years
Lived Is years most everywhere %
suggested Attorney Richardson of the
defense
Yes sir
''Where did you live next?"
Nebraska
How Iong2
Thirteen years.
The further proceedings were in
terrupted several minutes by laughter
Robertson said he got scared out of
Nebraska by the cyclones" and he came
to Idaho and had broken all previous
was married at the age of 25-
Did you marry Scotch Iassie - he
was asked
You bet I did
Robertson said he believed in labor
organizations believed in every man
getting a days wage for his work
Robertson was accepted by both
sides. The defense then exercised the
ninth of its ten peremptory challenges
by excusing Harmon Cox at No 4
Cox is the man the defense tried in
vain to disqualify for cause during
greater part of last Mondays session.
The first three men called to re-
place Cox. disqualified themselves by
claiming opinions and Scruples against
capital punishment. Then came H. F.
Messacar, a farmer. who was accepted
at No Z Messacar is a native of Can
ada. He declared he had no opinion
whatever as to the guilt or innocence
of the accused
Before any further challenges were
exercised court took a recess until 1.30
O. m There was a conference in pro-
gress at that hour and it is said to
have something to do with the pos
sibIe excuse by consent of some of the
men in the Jury box.