The Washington times., 1909-05-25
Alexandra Secured for Men
WHO Have Not Ex-
pressed Belief.
ARRAIGN QUARTET
FOR THE KILLING
Defense Hopes to Prove Alibi for
First Man Accused of Stay
ing Artist.

After spending the better part of the
day in securing a jury. the taking OF
evidence against Calvin johnson. one OF
the four negroes accused Of the murder
Of Walter F. Schultz the Chicago artist.
On March 6. last was begun late this
afternoon In opening statement to
the jury Corporation Counsel Brent an
nounced that he would show beyond the
shadow of a doubt that the prisoner was
guilty as indicted. Mrs. Almon Hume
Gillette, sister of the murdered man.
attended the afternoon session of the
court, escorted by Chief of Police Goods.
So great was the impression made By
the murder and its attendant mystery
that every citizen of the town at one
time or another has expressed an opln-
ion as to what should be done to the
murderers. If they we're caught.
The entire morning session of the cor
poration court was consumed in an ef-
fort 70 secure sixteen men whose preiu-<
dice was not so firmly placed that Il
could not be shaken by evidence
Fifty Talesmen Summoned.
FIFTY taiesmen were brought into
court this morning and summoned into
the jury box. sixteen at time. Under
the laws OF Virginia, It is necessary to
secure sixteen qualified jurors. sner
which the number is reduced to twelve
by the use Of challenges. two for the
Government and two for the defense.
When Judge Louis c. Barley asked
the first panel Il any Of them had ex-
pressed or formed an opinion as 70 the
case, he was much surprised to receive
an emphatic response from every man
in the box.
But four qualified jurors were secured
IN the first panel Three more came
with the SECOND. and at z o'clock.
thirteen men had been secured.
Attorney Louis H. Machen, who will
defend johnson, was very caxeful in
his inquiries Of the jurors, and objected
TO several who seemed to have only a
slight opinion as to the guilt Of the
prisoner.
Impatient At Delay.
Judge Barley and Commonwealth At
torney Samuel L. Brent both sboUea
signs OF fmpationce as The examination
dSagged on with so little result IN
conIsAenting on one Jurors reply to his
questions. the Judge said he would much
rather have a juror who had read the
accounts Of the czfme and
had formed an opinion that one who
had formed no opinioe at all
The courtroom was crowded when pro-
were opened this morning.
rT he
being unable to find seats. There was
considerable noise when the court first
opened. and Judge Barley announced
In a decided manner that the soecta-
tors would have to be quiet, and that
the trial must proceed in an orderly
manner
Johnson, the prisoner. occupied q seat
BY hirSSelf In the prisoners pep and
to be the most unconcernsd
and dislnterested pei con Ia tbe ROOM
He has many fTiends in Alexandria
and has, $eretofore, porn an excellent
Many OF them erseted him
this morning, but there were no ex-
pressions OF sympathy.
Little Sympathy Expressed.
From the answers given by the tales
men TO the courts questions. and the
commonly expressed opinion in the
the four defendants in these
cases may expect very littIe sympathy
-er denunciation OF the crime and TIE
openly expressed wish that II perpetra-
-ors viii be made TO pay the penalty OF
he law. is the principal characteristics
II the trial so far.
While tne defendants attorney win
lot discuss the case until the time
zones for him TO present his evidence.
[ IS unders oood that he viii endeavor
o prove an alibi in the case of Johnson.
May Prove Alibi.
Mr.. Machen has a number OF wit
lesses. IL Is stated. who viii testify as
o the movements OF johnson from the
evening of March 10 the evening Of
March Z, covering the entire time in
which the murder could have been COM
nitted.
The trials Of the three other men viii
,e called Immediately after that OF
Johnson Is finished. a new jury being
elected. CT course. in each case. There
S no doubt in the minds Of Alexan-
lrians that all the trials viii be I'M
shed in short order