The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-12-10

With ten jurors empaneled in the
Smith case up to noon today, the
prospect was good for the completion
of the jury this afternoon. The special
venire returned yesterday afternoon
was exhausted at 1890 o'clock this
til two o'clock this afternoon, when
another special venire of twenty tales
men was returned into court by Sher-
if Donahue. 1t seemed reasonably GER
tain at that time that two men could
be found from among the twenty who
would prove acceptable to both sides.
Great care has been exercised in
the selection of the jury, and one of
more than ordinary fairness and intel
ligence has been selected Both sides
believe that all of the men on the
jury will give the case their best eff
forts and will decide upon the evidence
produced in court.
Yesterday Afternoon.
George ID. Strong of Amboy was
ruled out yesterday afternoon because
he had an opininon that possibly he
could not lay aside upon entering the
jury box. The triers found challenge
by the defense for actual bias true.
Archie Mcdonald of Rapidan was
challenged by the defense for actual
bias, and the state admitted it, so
he was excused.
r.. Z. Stankey, Shelby farmer,
was challenged by the defense for act
ual bias. He said that he had an
opinion once in regard to the guilt or
Innocence of the defendant, but had
none now.
when did you change your opin-
ion!' asked the defendants counsel
Il changed it when the papers got
through printing the evidence"
'Wnen was that?''
Before the preliminary hearings"
"What made you change it?'
Il made up my mind that the pa
pers had it mixed up so that l didn't
know which was which,
The defense withdrew the objection
and tine state had none, after Mr..
Stankey had said that he had no con-
scientious scruples against capital pun
ishment. He was sworn as the seventh
juror.
j. Cornish, a grain buyer of Amboy,
when challenged by the defense for
actual bias, said that he had formed
an opinion regarding the defendants
he could lay it aside in the jury box
The triers concluded that he could not,
and he was excused
j. Ii. Dredge, lumberman of Am
boy, said that he had gone to the
county Jail to see Smith through cur
iosity. When challenged by the de-
Tense for actual bias, he said that
he had formed an opinion, and it was
doubtful whether he could lay it aside
in the jury box. He was excused by
the triers.
c. Brace of Amboy was challenged
by the defense for actual bias, and the
state admitted it, and the Juror was
excused.
Nathaniel Stevens, better known at
his home at Amboy as Than Stevens.
was challenged by the defense for act
ual bias, and said that he had an
opinion, but thought that he could try
the case fairly even if he could not
lay aside his opinion. The triers
sustained the challenge
Knew Ledbeter Family
b. +. Rupert of Mapleton, who has
worked for different farmers, said that
he was no relation TO Peter r Rupert
witness before the grand jury in
these cases. He had seen HI. j. Led
better. but had not been acquainted
with him. He had known Mrs. Myrtle
>. Miller, sister of Mrs. Ledbeter,
and had worked for her husband be-
fore their marriage When challenged
for actual bias, he said that he had
read of the ease in The ST. Paul Dis
Continues On Pace Five.