The San Francisco call., 1908-12-17
; ON TRIAL FOR
TRYING TO KILL
il. GALLAGHER
Defendant Once Confessed He
Was Hired TO Kill Star Wit
ness Against Grafters
Three Jurors Are Chosen and
Sworn, Subject to Peremp-
tory Challenge
Young Man on Trial Takes
Interest In Proceedings, Often
Advising With Counsel

The case of Peter Claudianes, the
Foung man charged with the actual
commission of the attempt to dynamite
the home of James l. Gallagher in
Oakland on April % Of this year, was
called TO trial yesterday before Superior
Judge ". II. Waste of Alameda county.
Rapid progress was made during the
day in the selection of a jury, and
yhen adjournment was taken yester-
day afternoon. three jurors had been
finally accepted and sworn for service.
Claudianes, the defendant, appeared
yesterday a different lad than the one
brought under arrest to Oakland in
August after his flight east and cap
ture in Chicago by special agents of
william J. Burns. He was brought
lnto court nattily attired in dark
blue suit. and looking in the best Of
health and spirits after four months
in the Alameda county jail. He took
2 close interest in all the proceedings.
consulting often with his attorney, j.
". Scott Of San Francisco, and in sew
eral instances advising with him over
the passing or challenging of a par
ticular tslesman.
LANGDON ON HAND
District Attorney William H. Lang
don OF san Francisco, who was instru-
mental in hunting down the perpetra-
tors Of the outrage that so nearly re-
suited in the death of the star wit
ness for the prosecution in the local
graft cases, took an active part in the
Impeachment Of the jury yesterday. He
was invited into the case by District
Attorney ". H. Donahue Of Alameda
county, and they alternated with each
other in the questioning of the pros
pective Jurors Scott appeared alone
for Claudianes, and none of the young
mans relatives was present in the
courtroom.
Twenty-seyen talesmen were exam
tned yesterday, and out OF the first -
questioned, u were temporarily chosen
to MI the jury box. This number
was reduced by the exercise Of per
smptory challenges to three. who were
finally sworn. The defense exhausted
six Of the % challenges allowed in
l.
tion expended three.
The three men sworn to act in the
sase were John Hart, retired gardener
Of Berkeley; John Mortensen, a re-
tired farmer Of San Leandro, and James
Potts. a retired cement worker of Ala
media. The talesmen originally passed
but later challenged by the prosecu-
tiou. were William ]. Abernathy, NJ. L.
King and +. J. Beban, while the de-
fense rid the box OF II. L. Fedderson.
samuel Gibbs, Carlton T. Moulthrop.
Benjamin Il. Beams, Percy L. Bliss and
E. J. Ryus.
Unlike every graft case that has
been tried in San Francisco, an adInis-
sion Of bias either for or against the
prosecution was made the ground for
scarcely a single dismissal of q tales
man on statutory cause. It was be-
cause they had familiarized themselves
with the details of the Gallagher dyna-
hitting case and had visited the scene
Of the outrage that most OF the jurors
we're excused
VENIREMEN DISMISSED
Those who were dismissed on statu-
tory grounds were James Anderson
William Kelly, James Townsend. Smith
]. Hill. p. J. Delehanty. w. f. Neal
c. Schmidt, Fred Peterson, S. Z. Ehr-
man, John D. O'Connell, A. G. Fran
, eisco. John Valladao, c. II. Priest and
rlent the jury box was reflled a third
time and William II. Farris. retired
horficulturist of Alameda, was passed
subject TO peremptory challenge.
The indictment on which Peter Claud-
lanes is being tried is one jointly ac-
susing him with his brother, John. and
FELIX Psuduveris, the fugitive from JUS
lice with dynamiting the home of w
r. Schenck. at 1870 Nineteenth avenue
In Oakland. At the time of the dyna-
hitting, on April -. former Supervisor
James l. Gallagher of San Francisco
was living with the Schenck family. In
confessions made at the time of their
arrest but since rctracted. the Claud-
lanes brothers admitted that they had
been hired by Felix Pauduveris an ex-
lieutenant of Abe Ruef, TO murder Cal
lsgher to prevent him from testify
Ing in the San Francisco graft cases.
Pauduveris fed at the time of John
CIaudianes' arrest and has never been
captured. The indictment alleges a
felony, for which the punishment Is
from one year in the penitentiary to
lie Imprisonment.