The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1907-01-30
SURPRISE IN
THAW TRIAL
Judge Excused Two Of the
Jurors.
ONE WAS DISMISSED
Had Not Asked for Release an q
Is Mystilied Over Action
OF the Court.

NEW YORK, Jan. D-The first big
surprise Of the trial Of Harry X. Thaw
came when Justice Fitzgerald, on mo.
ton OF District Attorney Jerome and
with the consent OF the attorneys FOL
the man accused OF the murder OF Stan.
ford White. announced that two OF the
jurors selected In the early days Of the
proceedings would be excused from
further service.
without any reflection on the jury.
men whatsoever" said the presiding
Judge. Jurors Nos. and will he ex.
cused."
Tho men In question were Arthur S,
Campbell. superintendent OF tele.
phone construction, and Harold X
Fslrs. printer and publisher Of pam.
phlet circulated In Wall street.
by agreement" said District At
torney Jerome. "the reasons for this
action will not be made public, but
they are OF business nature"
When the excused jurymen left the
courtroom they were bcsleged by ques
TONERS. Mr.. Falre created u mild sen.
satlon in the corridors when he assert
ed with posltlveness that he was utter
" in Ignorance OF any reason why he
should be asked 10 step down. He
said:
The announcement In court was the
nrst knowledge had m the lntendei
action. In passing through the court
house corridors ! heard man remark
/ that two Of the Thaw Jurors were 60
I be excused had no Idea that the re-
mark could include me-. About thref
wears ago. when I was connected with
brokcrngs concern. two detective
from the district attorneys ONCE who
said they visited the places which sci
unlisted securities dropped in on me
asked some impertInent questions and
wanted 10 know N would be- willing
10 10 up to the district attorneys Office
any time I might be wanted. | said
Yes. hut that was the last ever
heard OF the matter"
Mr. Campbell. the second OF the OK
cuscd Jurors. declared he had too
much respect Tor the court 10 give an
interview" II WA generally reported
that Mr.. Campbell had asked 10 be re-
lleved. lie begged TO be excused when
first placed on the jury.
One new juror had been added to the
trial panel when the excuse OF Fairo
and Campbell was announced, and o
second one was subsequently, secured.
thus ofsettlng the loss Of the two pre-
vlously sworn jurors. There are nine
men I'm the jury box aud three vacant
chairs NJ the result OF the cXamlna-
ton ~ 2is talesmcn.
The two new jurors sworn In were.
No. 10. John $. Dennee. travelling
freight agent. thirty eight years OF agc
and unmarried. Mr. licnnee i native
OF New Orleans.
No. 4. David :. Walker. real estate
broker. thirty four years u arc and un.
married. Mr Walker n q sou 81 John
Brlsbcn Walker.
Thaw seemed 10 be particularly well
pleased with the selection 81 both Den.
nee aud Walker aud smiled when the
prosecution withdrew all pending chal
lcngcs against the ialosmcn A. soon
n Mr Dcnnec said be was a Iouisl.
aninn Thaw was seen In earnest con.
suliation with his lawyers. Mr.. Walker
was accepted by the defense In spite Of
the fact that be said be knew Stanford
White aud many of the dead archl.
tect's friends lie also had formed an
opinion In the case aud expressed II
many times. These facts. Mr. Walker
declared. however. would not prevent
his rendering an entirely fair and I'm
partial verdict. lie had not seen White
for q year before his death
The defense now has thirteen OF 10
pcrcmptory challenges left and the
state seventeen.
The members OF the Thaw family
were all In court and for once dis.
armed those who had circulated re-.
ports Of a serious break 10 the family
relations Mrs. william Thaw. mother
Of the prisoner. conycrscd and chattcj
with Mrs. Harry Thaw constantly. The
Countess OF Yarmouth also talked free
~ with young Mrs. Thnw nc intervals
during the day Miss May Mackenzie
was participant In several Of the
family chats. notably during the lunch.
con recess. when the party sat for o
time IN n circular group aud carried on
general conversation. The prisoner
seemed 10 be- In high spirits. and the
fact that the actual hearing of the case
had i'cen put back full day or more
by ths luri's action In cXcuslng two
OF the sworn jurors did not seem 20
have the least effect upon him. II Il
now believed ihat the taking Of tcstl.
mony cannot be reached before iomor
row afternoon.