The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-09-01
Attorneys for the Young Eaton.
Murderer viii Attempt to
Prove That He Was Temp
orariIy Crazed.
RELATIVES OF RIFE
ATTEND THE COURT
Jury Was Finally Secured
Without Much Difficulty
Only a Few Witnesses Have
Been Summoned.

Eaton. Ohio. Sept. l.. ....s
. emotional insanity viii Do
the defense of Harry Rife. the Boston,
Ind. young man, for the murder OF
Mrs. Ida Griswold. which occurred
about two months ago. This an.
nonncement was made in the Common
Pleas court of Preble county yesterday
afternoon. following the completion Of
the jury.
William 3. Marsh. local counsel for
Rife. in addressing the jury and Judge
Fisher. said that the defenseS plea
would be insanity and that they ex-
pected to prove Rife to be in such q
condition. not only when he committed
the murder but for several days pre-
ceeding the affair.
In answer to the defense and also to
present the states grounds for pro-
cedure. Assistant Prosecuting Attorney
Philip A Sayler. read the affidavit In
which 1t is charged that Rife commit
ted the deed after careful deliberation
and generalization. He said Rites
cause or excuse for committing the
deed was entirely lacking.
Testimony 70 Started.
Testimony In the case commenced
this afternoon. The state has sub
poenaed sixteen witnesses and he de-
fense but ten. However. It is not exc
pected that twenty-six witnesses win
constitute the entire number. It -
more than likely that seventy-five or
hundred witnesses will be the total
number. Those subpoenacd up to
date are all residents OF the county.
They include eye witnesses of the MUIR
der and members of both families. as
well as close friends of Mrs. Griswold.
the murderer's victim. Love letters
which passed between Mrs. Griswold
and Rife. during the time they were
corresponding with each other. will De
used as evidence, according to the
plans of the state.
The defense will no doubt introduce
several pkySicians who are regarded
as authorities on insanity. Just who
these expert witnesses will include
has not been announced. Neither has
the defense announced whether Rife.
the murderer. would testify In his own
behalf.
Expect End Next Week.
1t is believed that the case will 90
to the jury by the middle Of next
week.
This morning, for the first time
since the opening OF the case. Mrs.
Rife. hef daughter and son. living in
Boston and the mother. sister and
brother Of the murderer. respectively.
were In the court room. Rife greeted
them with fervor and they took seats
at the table. near him and his attor-
neys.
! Members of the Gilmore family win
be subpoenaed as witnesses and Tor
this reason they will be excluded from
the court room until after they have
testified.
Yesterday afternoon was consumed
almost entirely in the selection Of tho
jury. Six of the jurors Of those an.
nounced In yesterdays issue were dis.
missed by the state and defense BY
the exercise of preemptory challenge.
However neither side had difficulty In
finding acceptable men and the jury
was complete before evening.
, Who Are on Jury.
The men who were passed Monday
and Tuesday and who were summarily
excused were: Harvey Mcwhinney. oe
Jackson township. and A. H. Albert, Of
Harrison township. by the State. and
George H. Bohn. l. B. Plummer and
George Snuder. all Of Washingtp0
township, and Emanuel Wehrley Of
Monroe township. by the defense. OF
the new venire sent out and served. 1ll
but five were examined, making q to
tai of 66 who were questioned a to
their desirability to act as Jurors. The
number summoned to appear in court
was ~, three Of whom could not bo
served and five dismissed without ex-
animation.
The jury as 1t now stands b com
posed entirely OF farmers OF middle
age. They are as follows: Oliver
Keselring. Twin township; R z.
Brandenberg. Jackson township:
George Eadler. Twin township: Luther
| Brown, Israel township: L. G. BixleG.
Harrison township: James II. Beckett
Israel township: Lewis Butt, LAnier
township: Frank Brown. Harrison
township; Frank o. Dunlap. DiDnn
township; Ed B. Reid. Jefferson town
ship: l. e. Morse. Jackson townahip:
Adair Hartman. Washingtoo tOuN
ship.