The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1907-01-08
JURY CHOSEN FOR
SIEMSEN TRIAL

John Siemsen, confessed murderer
and perpetrator of a string Of brazen
crimes that for three months kept cit
liens of this city in constant fear for
their lives, will go before twelve of his
feIlowmen in Judge Carroll Cooks de-
partment of the Superior Court this
morning, and viii stand. trial for the
taking the life of NJ Murakata, the
japanese banker.
After three days spent in examining
jurors as to their qualifications TO pass
unbiased judgment on the case, twelve
Jurors, apparently satisfactory to both
the prosecution and the defense, We're
obtained and the hearing of testimony
will begin today when court convenes
at 10 o'clock.
In selecting the jury the attorneys
for the defense, in support Of their ap-
plication for a change Of venue, sub
jected each prospective Juror to a
searching DISCRIMINATION, and by
using all Of their twenty peremptory
challenges caused four venires to be
issued before the jury was impaneled.
The prosecuting attorneysAuMsed but
half of the ten challenges allowed by
the law. In all ninety-eight men were
passed upon and the following twelve
were selected:
Charles Keilus, Hub Clothing Compa-
ny; Thomas Wilson. merchant; T. J.
BrlGQs poultry Q6aleTs benjamin Neu-
man, wholesale liquor dealer; ]. A Nc
Cormick, halter; Louis Schloh, retired
grocer; John Mcdonald, tinsmith; J.
O'Brien, retired builder; 4 p. Degun,
leather manufacturer; A. Nuremberg,
retired grocer; z. Cook, real estate
dealer; Thomas Brady, retired mer-
chant.
LANGDON IN CHARGE
To assist in precluding any POSSIBLE
fly of the self-confessed criminal
escaping the punishment of the law
through a technical loophole, District
Attorney William H. Langdon has as
sumed personal charge of the prosecu-
ton, and he will be seconded by his
assistant, James Hanley. During the
choosing of the last six jurors Lang
don was sick and Hanley had direct
charge for the District Attorneys office
Unless the chief of that Office is able
to appear in court today, Hanley will
make the opening argument. J. ].
Greeley and Albert P. Whelan will de-
fend Siemson.
The first witness to be called this
morning viii be DR.. o. S. Cusich, who
performed the autopsy on the body OF
the murdered bank president, and he
will be followed by Drs. Miller and
McGinty of the Central Emergency
Hospital who had charge of the OPERA
time of his injury The employees of
the Kimmon Ginko or Golden Gate
Bank will be called to tell about the
accused murderer's visit to the bank
on the day before the robbery and muir
der took place. and by their testimony
Siemsen will be identified as the visit
or. S. Sasaki, the assistant to the
president of the bank. and who was in
the room with his fellow banker when
the latter was killed. will be the star
witness for the prosecution.
sAsAFxI RECOVERED
Sasaki, who came so near being a
victim Of the gaspipe men, has COM
pletely recovered from the effects Of
his fractured skull and now remem-
bers clearly everything that transpfred
on that fateful day. Sasakf has already
identified Siemsen as his assailant, and
the prosecuting attorneys feel confident
that q conviction could be secured on