The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-08-31
Ten Men Selected. But It Is
Thought This Number viii
Be Cut Down by Further
Challenges.
INSANITY THOUGHT TO
BE PLEA OF DEFENSE
Surprise Is Expressed That
Judge Fisher Has Been Al
lowed to Remain on Bench
In Case.

Eaton. Ohio. August 3l.-The selec-
ton of jury to sit in the trial of Har.
ry Rife, charged with the murder OF
Mrs. Ida Griswold. public librarian.
was resumed this morning at .
o'clock in the common pleas court.
Three men were selected the first
thing from the second venire of SO
men. but owing to the exercise of tbs
peremptory challenge by the state and
defense the jury was reduced to ten
men.
The jury includes up to date the fol.
lowing:
Lewis Butt. Lanier township: A. III.
Albert. Harrison township: Emanuel
Wehrley. Monroe township: Lewis b.
Plummer. Washington township; Geo.
Snyder. Washington township; James
II. Beckett, Israel township; Oliver
Keselring. Twin township: Frank
Brown. Harrison township; Frank o.
Dunlap, Dixon township.
At the resumption of the trial this
afternoon, both sides examined those
chosen on the second venire. in order
to select two additional men for tho
jury. II was not expected at noon
that the jury would be complete until
evening. BY the exercise Of the pre-
emptory challenge on the part Of the
state and defense, 1t is expected that
the jury will be reduced even more
than 1t was today. There Is even q
feeling among the court attaches that
the entire number selected up TO date
will be removed by the exercise of the
above privilege. The state can re.
move four men by such process while
the defense can remove sixteen jurors.
Each side has removed but one man SO
far.
Little Interest Shown.
During the selection of the jury lit
tie interest is taken in the trial. Tho
attorneys on both sides are methodic-
ally examining each man and such
progress in the case becomes monoto-
nous to the spectators. During tho
morning session. George Bohn, .
Washington township resident was 50
frustrated by the defense. that II was
with difficulty he remembered his
own name. He was not certain that
he even lived in Washington township.
Contrary to popular belief. the de-
fense made no effort to remove Judge
Fisher from the bench. on the ground
he was prejudiced against the defend-
ant Attorney Wilfred Jessup OF
Richmond, stated that no such move
was even contemplated. However. II
was presumed here. that owing to the
courts friendly relations with the Gil
more family. Of which Mrs. Griswold
was a member. that the defense would
ask his removal.
wilfred Jessup. who is conducting
Rife's defense. with the assistance Ut
William B. Marsh OF this place. re-
mains silent in respect to the nature
of the defense. When approached
on the question. all he says is. "Rife's
defense at present is not guilty" The
supposition on the part OF court at
taches is that temporary insanity will
be the most logical plea for the de-
fense to bring out In its attempt TO
save Rife from the chair. An expla-
nation for such superstition. as ef-
planned by one of the court attaches is.
that Rife was almost electrocuted .
few days before he committed tho
murder and following his accident. Ee
was morose and addicted to the use OF
strong drink to keep up his spirits. u
is said. He suffered from meloncho-
liza. according to those with whom hs
spent his time.
Sharkey Murder Case.
The last first degree murder trial %
occupy the attention of Preble county
people was that of Elmer l. Sharkey.
twenty years ago. The trial was be-
gun April -. 1889. A conviction for
first degree murder. without clemency.
was secured by Attorney John Rising
er. then county prosecutor, who h al
so aiding the state against Rife The
case was heard by Judge ID. L. Meeker.
of Greenville. and the jury was COM
posed of Charles Burkett- Warren Dun
lap. Hugh Ramsey, John Bunger. J. @
Burns. Samuel Mitchell. William
Brown. Hugh A. Biggs. A. p. Paxton.
w. b. CLAYTON, Michael Boomershine
and Finley Kincaid. Following his
conviction in Preble county new trial
was granted upon error. and change
of venue took the case to Butler coun-
II. Here a similar conviction was Sc
cured and Sharkey was hanged at the
Ohio penitentiary in exDiation of his
crime. Sharkey killed His mother.
Caroline Sharley. With whom he lived
on . farm Just north 0f Eaton. By hit
ting her In the head WITH . maui. The
cause Of the crime was said To have
been q grievance over the alleged OBJ