The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1910-11-14
MEM SELECTED To GIVE mrs,
TOTTEA LIFE Or DEATH
Work Of Choosing Jury Proceeded Rapidly Today -
Commission On Insanity Unnecessary = Attorney
Thomas Introduced Plea to Be Used Only as One
Argument Of Defense.

The superior court room was fill
ed this morning with the jurymen
who had been summoned for the
celebrated murder trial of Mrs.
Della Totten. A dramatic scene was
presented by the person of the wo-
man charged with the most serious
offense possible in a criminal court.
Sitting by her attorney, Ira Thomas,
and her husband, Mrs Totten faced
Judge Grimshaw on the one side
and the jury box on the other hand,
with Prosecuting Attorney Kemp
and Frank Reeves, who is to assist
the state, directly across the table.
Mrs. Totten's face showed by it's
deep lines and the sadness Of her
eyes the dire effect of her confine-
ment in the jail since last August,
and the gloomy thoughts which must
have occupied her mind.
Anticipating much difficulty in
securing an absolutely fair minded
jury an extraordinary panel of 165
men had been subpoenaed These
who were present by legal compul-
sion made an audience which was no
less interesting because they were
compelled to be present.
Immediately after court opened,
Prosecuting Attorney Kemp read a
report of additional witnesses which
he wished to have subpoenaed for
the case. The defendants attorney,
Ira Thomas, objected to this request
but was overruled.
Insanity Plea Not to Delay.
At the very outset Judge Grim
shaw called attention to the addi-
tional plea of insanity filed in behalf
of the defendant and that this plea
stated Mrs. Totten to be insane not
only at the time she performed the
act as alleged, but is now mentally
irresponsible.
The court asked the defendants
attorney whether this plea would
prevent the defense from proceeding
with the case. Mr.. Thomas stated
that the plea is entered only as one
of the arguments in favor of the de-
tense. In this way it was made I'M
necessary to stop the proceedings
while commission to inquire into
Mrs. Totten's sanity should act. The
rail- call of the jury panel was then
called by County Clerk Campbell
and nearly all answered present.
First Jurymen Called.
Drawing the names by lot, the
following men were called to enter
the jury box:
J. Jones, A. B. Trimble, r. e.
Hastings. F. w. Whalen. H. S. Barn
hill, C. Gormley, H. G. Worley, s.
E. Phillips, w. w. Wenner, w. G.
Chapman, e. w. Burgess and Miles
Charlton.
After examination by Mr.. Kemp,
five of these were challenged for
cause. They were Whalen, Barnhill,
Worley, Burgess and Charlton.
Their places were filled satisfactor-
lily to the state by B. F. Tigner. A.
L. Parsons, George H. Holman, Alex
Craig and G.. w. Brown.
Examination of Juryrnen.
Attorney Thomas then began his
examination Of the jurors. He ac-
cepted Hastings, challenged Tigner.
but his challenge was overruled.
After further questioning by Frank
Reeves he also challenged Alex
Craig, which was first opposed by
Mr.. Reeves but later agreed upon,
and Craig was excused by the court.
At the time of going to press the
work Of selecting the jury was still
proceeding with indications that 1t
would be completed before the at
ternoon is over, securing the jury
with surprising rapidity.
All Read Daily World Story.
In the questions put by the attor-
neys to the jurors they were asked,
Have you read newspaper accounts