Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-27
WOULD NOT HANG HIM
Many TaIeSmen Are Opposed to
Death Sentence.
HAYWOOD CASE HALTED
Little or No Progress Made Today in
Getting Jury.
LAST VENIRE NEARLY USED UP
Counsel for the Defense Jokes About
Capital Punishment-Querie
to the Talesmen.
HAYWOOD CASE HALTED
LAST VENIRE NEARLY USED UP

BOISE, May 27-With twenty-six persons
including twelve talesmen seated inside the
bar as spectators. the trial of William ID.
Haywood, charged with the murder OF for
mer Gov. Frank Steunenberg opened today
Tor the thirteenth day. 1t was thought
that court would adjourn later in the day
and that special venire would be sum-
moned. 1t is doubtful II this venire can be
brought together in time for a session OF
court Wednesday. II this can not be done
no session can be held until Friday, as
Thursday is a legal holiday
Immediately after the premlnaries Of
the opening of court the state took up the
examination of s. NJ. Joplin. who was called
to the seventh chair just as court adjourned
Saturday afternoon. During the eNamina-
ton Joplin said he was opposed to capital
punishment.
I presume the state will pay no attention
to that disqualification" said Clarence s.
barrow. counsel for the defense. amid
laughter
The State Challenges.
The state. however. challenged, ard Jop-
lin was excused.
{. J. Northrup a prominent business man
OF Boise. was excused after few ques-
lions that showed prejudice.
w. c. Williamson. rancher, and at one
time a miner, and a member Of the West
ern Federation Of Miners. was next called.
Williamson worked in a mine at Silver City
mining and severed his connection with the
Western Federation Of Miners, because. as
he said. they told me 1 was getting too
Ola for the mine, so l gave it up and went
TO farming. Williamson proved some
what refreshing change from the run Of
talesmen under examination for cause.
Would Not Talk About Case.
He said that since he had been called as a
Juror he had not allowed people to talk Of
the case in his hearing; that he had formed
no definite opinion as to the guilt or inno-
cence of Haywood and was prepared to be-
lieve him innocent until he was proved
guilty. The state was progressing splendid
ly along the line of qualification for cause
and when just about to pass the talesman
Williamson caused much amusement by
quietly injecting the remark: Il want
to say that am opposed to capital punish
ment"
He was quickly disposed of.
Jacob Bingham. a farmer, Of Boise. was
disposed of for the same reason.
w. s. Bruce, a bank cashier of Boise.
was the fifth talesman called inside the
first half hour. When asked If he knew Of
any reason why he could not serve. Bruce
said:
Il would not under any circumstances
convict a man on circumstantial evidence
where the penalty is DEATH
Challenged by State.
On further examination he said he could
not take the oath as a juror holding these
views. He was challenged by the state and
excused.
Harmon Cox. a retired rancher. who had
worked as a carpenter In Iowa, Wyoming
and Nevada. was passed for cause by the
state. and his examination for the defense
was taken up by Clarence barrow.
In reply to questions as to his religion,
Cox said he was at one time a Baptist and
later q Methodist. Twelve years ago no
quit the Methodist church and recently be-
came a member of the Christian Science
organization, whose church in Boise he has
attended regularly since. Cox said he be-
lieved in organized labor means of self
protection. At the same time he saw no
reason why non-union worker should not
take the place of a union striker. He
admitted that his two children. boy and a
girl, at present employed by the Independ-
ent Telephone Company, had taken the
places Of striking operators during a recent
strike in the Boise office.