Las Vegas optic. (East Las Vegas, N.M.) 1908-1921, 1911-10-13
THE FIRST CHALLENGE USED
STATES ATTORNEYS OBJECT
AND COURT HAD NOT pEcIp-
ED MATTER AT NOON
MUCH TINE IS 10 BE USED
so JEALOUS IS DEFENSE THAT
1T MAY BE MANY DAYS BE-
FORE JURY is SECURED

Los Angeles. Oct. 13.-After hours
Of persistent questioning, the defense
in the murder trial of James B. Nc
Namara challenged for cause venire-
man 2. T. Nelson, near the end of the
morning session.
Nelson was the first venireman
examined in the trial of the first of
the cases resulting from the explo-
sion which wrecked the Los Angeles
Times building year ago.
From the start, Nelson showed ex-
treme hesitation In answering ques-
tions put by Attorney Lecompte Davis
for the defense. This was generally
noticed and it finally brought an adj
monition from Judge Bordwell.
"Have you any opinion that would
require evidence to remover was the
question finally hit upon that brought
direct answer.
''T think I have said Nelson and
later amplified this to include IAN
opinion as to the guilt or innocence
of the defendant s
Assistant District Attorney G.. Ray.
Horton for the state got from Nef'
son, briefly a reiteration of the asser-
ton that he would need evidence 70
remove his opinion with the supple
mentary declaration that he thought
he could give the defendant a fair
trial.
The trial was resumed at 1914
o'clock this morning.
H. l. Poppenbush was selected to
fill vacancy in the panel. District
Attorney Fredericks informed the
court that he would like to withdraw
his objection to the Unanswered ques
tions directed to 2. t. Nelson on
Wednesday. The question was:
with reference to the officers and
men who direct the management of
the affairs of labor unions, do you
believe that the great majority Of
them are lawless men?"
Mr.. Nelson, when asked the ques-
ton, said he could not answer it, as
he knew little of labor unions. He
would not say he was preiudiced
against labor union officers.
Mr.. barrow, for the defense. dis
posed of an objection by admitting
that the defendant was a member of
organized labor.
Nelson admitted that he had such
an opinion as would take evidence to
remove. He had heard of 0rtie Nc
Manigal's statement and had enter
tanned an opinion regarding the guilt
or innoncence Of the accused for about
six months.
1--WE challenge the Juror as being
biased" said Mr.. Davis. but the pro
secution resisted the challenge and
began a cross examination. Nelson
had not discussed the case with any
agent of the defense, he said. His
opinion was not founded on newspa-
per reports, but 1t would take evil
dence to remove it. He declared he
was not biased, personally and could
give the defendant an impartial trial.
Mr.. Horton concluded his cross
examination and asked that the chal-
llenge be denied The court began to
interrogate Mr.. Nelson to determine
whether he had any bias.
"On Wednesday you were asked
whether labor unions are proper or
are menace" said Judge Bordwell,
"and you said you had no objection
to them as organized. Are you pre-
JUDGED against labor unions as such ?"
mo"
"Have you any prejudice against
the defendant as a MANI"
mo"
Have you any question that the
Times building was DESTROYED by dyn-