Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1909-12-06

Her prison pallor accentuated by
her dress of black silk and the
heavy mourning veil which fell from
her black hat. Mrs. Mary J. Wilhelm,
charged with the murder of her hus-
band, Frank Wilhelm. faced Judge Ten
Eyck, in the Court Of Oyer and Termi-
ner today, and calmly awaited the
selection of the twelve jurymen who
are to have her fate in their hands.
BY no slightest gesture or change of
expression did Mrs. Wilhelm betray any
,ineasiness or acknowledge her appre-
citation Of the significance of the legal
..l;xaIna /, in which she Is to play the
realizing role. The most disinterested
s;t,ectator in the courtroom did not
seen To sn6wes less at stake than did
the woman who is charged with shoot
Ing her husband to death.
AT no time since suspicion was di-
rected toward, her on February 2, the
day following the discovery Of the
body of Frank Wilhelm in a rear hall
way of his home, 44S High street. has
Mrs Wilhelm lost her self-control, and
She has been put through grueiling ex-
ueriences, but she has not appeared to
better advantage than today, when the
CRISIS Of her troubled affairs was
reached In court.
The prisoner took her seat behind her
counsel, Chaunceey II. Beasley and Ed
ward S. Black. AS the talesmen were
examined her eyes alone betrayer ner
interest. She offerede no suggestions to
either Of the men who are to conduct
.aer trial, nor was she at any time con-
1ulted.
In startling contrast to the metnod
Of procedure across the Hudson When
"a woman is placed on triai Win ne,
.ife the stake. nothing was perni.oeo
70 delay the examination OF the taies-
,say, and the selection of the jurymen.
Il, less than an hour from the time the
5rst Of the prospective jurors was
raIIed the twelve men who are to SIT
IN Judgment on Mrs. wilhelm were In
their places in the jury box, and the
trial was started.
IT is confidently believed that YER
dict viii be returned in five days. Inc
,rosecutor has estimated that he Will
i,e able to submit the mass OF cireum-
stantial evidence in his possession
against the woman In three days. IL
ID believed the defense will have COM
nleted its case in two days, and Jerse!
i,lries usually live up to their reputa-
lion of being able to arrive at con-
clnsions with lightning-lik swiftness.
The court refused the motion TO
,uash the indictment made in her ms
tayest week ago by her counsel
sarrner Judge Chauncey HI. Beasley, Oh
Inc ground that Mrs. Wilhelm had
'l,eer compelled to go before the grand
i,,rv and there made certain admissions
WITHOUT having had the usual warnings
NOT 70 saw anything that would tend
to ineriminate her.
..7-his n1otioh," said Judge Ten Eyck
..a,,rbt tn be refused, because it does
rot anpear that Mrs. Wilhelm made
any objection to giving the testimony
n counsel desire to take exception that
can be done"
Mr.. Beasley at once said that he
would take such formal objection. The
court also denied the motion made last
week by Samuel Kalisch, of counsei
for Nicholas Sica. indicted with Mrs
Wilhelmn on the charge of the murder
os Mr. wilhelm. Mr.. Kalisch claimed
that the indictment against Sica was
defective because the word their
Qualifying the word malice in the
document should not have been used.
bnt the singular pronoun "his' or
"her'' used instead
The discovery of the body of Frank
wilhelm. contractor, in rear hall
way of the basement of his home, 44S
High street.. on the night OF February
/, led to one of the most battling mys-
teries in the police annals OF Essex
county. While detectives from police
headquarters aud the prosecutors Office
have managed to weave about Mrs
wilhelm and Sica, her acknowledged
atniirer. strong net of circumstantial
evidence, the bearing of the prisoners
themselves has been so we'll sustained
that ii has from the first presented a
granite front to the detectives.
The arrest Of Mrs. Wilhelm was the
SEQUEL to the discovery of Sergeants
Tliite and Horter. Of the local detective
bureau, Of evidence showing that Will
helm contemplated suing for divorce