Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-02-17
This May be Done in Quick Time
Despite General
Belief.
7ALEsMEN LACK OPINIONS.
Reading Newspapers Has Not
Caused Them to Believe De-
fendant Guilty or Innocent.
LAWYERS Make no Big Talks at Open
ing Of Trial. but Get Right
Down TO Business.


crrLIETIN--Ihrce Jurors were &C
oo,,cd ut the opening of the Sheets
,,,., his afternoon. They are, Sam
no, Parry. Homer Il. Burt, and E. IL
nonsie. The defense challenged o.
r,oft and the prosecution X. j.. WnI-
kcr
AFTER these Jurors were sworn tic
nc,t llye examined were, X. w. Nicois.
William McConahay, John James, II.
n. Badger and George L. Asper.
There may be good time made in
getting jury to sit on the case of the
state Of Utah vs.. Geo. A. Sheets,
charged with accepting bribe while
chief of police of this city. after all.
Owing 10 the fact that the case has
been hanging fire for over year and
also because 1t has been given wide
notoriety, II was expected the work
Of getting jury would be long and
tedious. But this morning saw Ave
talesman passed for cause out of a
drawing of eight and indications point
70 majority being accepted.
II was also expected counsel for both
sides would present their cases In out
line. as is usual but there was no talk
Inc by either side. Judge S. r. Thur
man simply stated that the defense de-
MED any charge of accepting bribery
and then Jumped right into the eX-
animation Of talesmen.
The room was full of men. ma
j0rty of whom are members of the
Jury panel
MINDS FREE FROM BIAS.
Great wonder is expressed at the
clear and free condition of the tales
mems minds In view of the fact that
all are residents of this city or neigh
boring localities and all read local
newspapers. In some instances they
had opinions as to the guilt or inno-
eence Of the defendant, but asserted
EVIDENCE would break or make thoir
opinion. Some of the men in the
bdx have sat on previous civil or
crininsl cases and displayed a notice.
sble knowledge of law and its intri-
cate workings.
ARRAY OF COUNSEL.
Judge Thurman so far has charge of
The defenses case and Dist. Atty. f.
Il.
Gtorge Sheets was In the courtroom al
most surrounded by lawyers. among
whom were Judge Thurman, Soren \.
Christensen, +. A. Wedgwood and A.
b. Irvine. associate counsel. On the
states side OF the table were Mr.. LOOT
bourow and County Atty. Hanson.
INTEREST is STRONG.
With the exception of one man. there
we've none OF the states witnesses In
the room and so far as known, none of
The defenses. From the close attention
given TO the proceedings by the spec
tutors it Is evident the case has lost
llitle interest, and when the trial Is on
10 earnest, the old-time crowds will
turn out
PARENT MISSING.
50 far as the sheriffs office knows,
Parent may be in the city and he
may not Tho sheriff repeats he does
4 not know where Parent Is, but he
Is mol worrying about his appearance.
Parents bail was his word, and the
officials say they would make a waS-
ef he Will be here. At any rate, his
signed confession and evidence Is held
by the prosecution, who sees no need
for worry.
TRIAL BEGINS.
At 1903 o'clock the bailiff raped
4 and announced the court In session.
Fred c. Lootbourow announced tie
state was ready, and Soren X. Chris
Jensen said the defense was also. Judge
Morse, hefore whom the trial Is being
held then instructed Clerk Howard
Nng to begin drawing names OF tales
men Before the first eight men could
be examined, Attorney Webb, who is
90 Ie... Ar0e ~
the defense, asked the court that the
Prosecution furnish list of its pro-
spective witnesses. This request was
denied by the court, the prosecution
declining 10 do 1t without an order
rom the bench. Judge S. II. Thurman
me third member of the defense's trio
o. legal representatives, then took the
nNor and outlined the case very brietly
lie then began the examination OF thu
Nfsl eight talesmen drawn.
FIRST MAN EXAMINED.
I'd McLelland, manager OF Wanda
mere was the first man examined. liz
SAC ne had read considerable abou
we Sheets and other cases In various
PAPERS being subscriber to "a morn
lhg paper and the News"
Mr. McIelland at hrst said he eoul'
not Say he had an opinion In regart
N''N 'An'f AsfNtl Ht Culi 10 AF'fsM'
an opinion, and Il would require SOM
evidence 10 change II, Judge Thur
llal objected To the talesman upon I'M
showing
Atly Loofbourow took the talesnhi
N hand Does your opinion go 10 IN
gull ~ innocence of the defendant
az Mcclellan said he could act as
Juror without partially or bias Atty
-ooibDurow resisted Judge Thurman
challenge The latter re-examined tn
man under FIRE.
MLEI.LAND EXCUSED.
Under cross.examination Mr.. MeLol
,ana faid he had an opinion as 20 III
9ull o. innocence Of the defendant
suuse Thurman then insisted upo
80, w the talesman dropped
Snufe Morse excused the talesman.
FRED KRoFF NEXT.
fred kroff. a laborer OF North Jor
~ was next. He said he has lived |
N~n 10Y 80 years and was an employ
~ ne Highland Boy Smelling compan
~. TX years. lie said he reads a loef
tappr ana had seen something abOt
~ McNnifter robbery and subss
S s ulala last fall Being German Ii
s"p NJ, hnd difficulty reoding so forme
plillon, and has since forgot VIII
~ t tas Wnenlasked II 10 remembers