The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1911-11-20
MILAN COOPER
TRIAL OPENED
THIS MORNING
Self Defense Will Probably
Be the Contention of the
Defense ..x!i w..
KILLING TOOK PLACE after
LONG SERIES OF QuARREls
Jurors knew Little About the Case
and tho Work OF Examination as tn
Qualification Progressed Fairly Ran.
idly-Story of the Trial.

McLaln Cooper, charged with the
murder OF j. F. Ross, today COM
menced his fight the district court
of Grand Forks county for acuuittal.
The entire day has been spent in the
examination of prospective jurors, the
defense concluding the examination of
the first venire about 3 O'clock this
afternoon. The prosecution then took
the venire in charge. It is probable
that no jurors will be accepted before
tomorrow morning.
self-defense is the plea that will be
made by young G -oper in the trial
as indicated by the line of questions
ing put by the leading counsel for the
accused, Tracy r. Bangs. The uues-
ton of whether or not self defense
was looked upon as reasonable de.
Tense; of whether or not a man was
within his rights to commence his de-
tense even before an adversary had
or not the juror believed that a man
might become SO excited or freighten.
ca as to lose possession of his facul-
ties for certain period, and whether
or not prejudice was held against ex.
pert evidence on the question Of mem
tai or nervous trouble, constituted the
principal points on which The venire
defense today.
Will BE Hard Fought
The case will be one Of the hardest
fought murder trials the state has
seen. For the prosecution States At.
torncy Charles Lyche Of Traill county
and Attorney Geo. A. Bangs of Grand
Forks will appear. the Latter being
appointed by Judge c. +. Templeton
TINS morning upon recommendation
from Traill county.
For the defense, Attorney Tracy r.
Bangs will be in active charge. with
Attorney p. G. Swenson of Htllsboro
and Attorney A. l.. Netoher of the
bangs, Cooley and Hamilton law of.
ficcs assisting.
knowledge of the case was not gen.
eral among the jurors questioned to-
Gay. their acquaintance for the most
part being through newspaper ac-
counts, The case was transferred to
Grand Forks county from TraiIl
on showing of prejudice in that
county.
Defendant Appears Nervous
Inc defendant, seated directly be.
mind his attorneys, appeared visibIy
nervous during the day. He watched
the jurors constantly as they were bc-
ing questioned, closely following the
questions and answers at every point.
he is a good looking young man, has
rather distinctive features, and an
pears to have suffered Very little from
his several months Imprisonment.
Harry Cooper. the young mans
father. is also in the court room.
Shooting Nine Months Aga
The shooting for which McLain
Cooper is on trial took place about
nine months ago on the Cooper farm
IN Trail county. ]. L. Ross was the
foreman on the farm and he and the
accused had quarrelled.
On the evening prior to the affair
Cooper had asked the sheriff of Traill
county to arrest Ross, but this re-
quest was not granted.
The following morning the quarrel
between the two men is supposed tn
nave been resumed. Ross being shot
Just as he was about to go into the
house for the alleged purpose Of Sc
curing gun. His back was turned
to Cooper when the shots were fired.
one bullet striking the spinal column
and Ross was in the JIllsboro hos
pital several months before death
claimed him.
During the time that Ross was in
the hospital young Cooper was free
under bond Of $4,000. With
Ross death he was re-arrested and
since then has been held without bail.
The First venirc
The first vcnire of iurymen called
in the case is conn osed Of r. c.
Aasen. NJ. Neville. r. w. Grant, r. r.
NonDonat, Oscar Berg. J. G. Stew
ems. II. Il. Rjerke. Chas. W. Cass, Sr..
Edw. Johnson. Andrew OmIid, l., A.
Warnken and John s. Houpen