Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1907-03-15
DAVIS PUT ON TRIAL.
Theater Horror of Three
Years Ago Recalled.

Iroquois Theater Horror of Three
Years Ago Recalled.
The trial of Will ]. Davis, charged
with manslaughter in connection with
the I%roquois Theater disaster in Chi
cago three years ago, was commenced
at Danville, ILL.,, Wednesday morning
In the Circuit Court before Judge E. R.
E. Kimbrough. The jury is composed
Of matured men, averaging 43 years in
age, one grocer, one blacksmith, one
fire insurance agent, and two real es-
tate dealers. The roster of the jury
follows:
Enos Campbell, blacksmith, George
town.
A. W. Darlington, farmer, Jamaica.
George Miller, farmer, Fossvflie.
Robert J. Jaggers, farmer. Sidell.
w. r. Williams, farmer, Fithian.
Fred Gibbs, merchant. lndianola.
T. e. Jones, miner, Catlin. .
O. D. Graves, farmer, Danville.
]. G. Foreman, farmer, Danville.
A. L. Giddings, insurance solicitor.
II. II. Mendenthal, farmer, George
town.
a.. a.. SOdle, real cSIdlS aSShs' '.S
Farm.
Miss Viva r. Jackson was the girl
In connection with whose death Wlll
J. Davis was indicted on a charge OF
manslaughter. She was one of those
who persisted Il the Iroquois Theater
fire.
The entire venire was practically
composed of farmers, there being only
q few business or professional men.
These seemed to have formed an opin-
ion regarding Davis guilt or Innocence,
and they were excused. Most of the
farmers on the venire said they had
not been in Chicago in twenty or more
years, and had received their iniirma-
ton concerning the Iroquois tragedy
through the newspapers. 1t developed
that almost every man was a constant
reader of Chicago newspapers. NO TIM
was lost in asking the veniremen use
less questions. The attorneys, acting
under strict orders from Judge Kim
brough, went direct to the point, and II
a venireman was not qualified he was
Immediately challenged or excused.
Attorneys for the defense stated that
they would resist any attempt of the.
prosecution to introduce unsayory and
horrible testimony. although we are
not going to mention this to the court
Just now" said Mr.. Mayer, when the
State attempts the horrible business we
will enter a strong objection" The
State has scores Of witnesses, n If
the trial is finished in three weeks or
q month it will surprise every one.
Lawyers for both sides, who say they
have full knowledge Of the personnel Of
the jurors, declare they are of an ex-
c~eptionally high grade of intelligence.
Residents Of Danville who have watch
ed their selection are of the opinion
that the jurors are about evenly di-
vided as to their leanings toward the
State and the defense and it is general
ly predicted that Davis will get "a
square deal"
william j. Davis was the owner or
manager of owners Of the theater,"
said Attorney Buckingham, she invited
thousands of persons to witness a pro-
duction at his playhouse on the after
noon of Dec. 30, when the house was
in an uncompleted condition and when
all the provisions of the law for the
protection of his patrons had not been
complied with. At least, this is what
we hope to prove. He was the respon-
sible person, as he was in charge of the
house."
The first attack on the States case
was made by Attorneys Joseph B.
Mann, W. J. Calhoun and Levy Mayer.
They contended that the ordinance
passed by the Chicago Council g
lating the operation of buildings of the
theater class is legally defective and
SO full of flaws that it Is absolutely
void. Being void and unlawful in the
eye of the law, and forming the very
foundation in the indictment on which
Davis is to stand trial. it is useless,
they contended, to waste the courts
time in the examination of witnesses.