The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-10-28
BY Associated Press.

Opelousas, La, Oct. 27.-Before a
hushed audience that packed the old
parish court house, Albert Garland to-
day donned the blood stained shirt
worn by his dead brother, Allan, on
Sept. 21, and reenacted the scenes Of
the tragedy for which Mrs. Zee E.
Rune McRee, wife of a prominent rail-
road official, is asked to pay the death
penalty.
Mrs McRee, whose defense is that
she killed Allan Garland to protect
her honor, was visibly nervous
This grim scene came with the ex-
animation of the first witness at the
trial today. This is the first time in
the history of this parish that a white
woman stands before the bar of JUS
tice to face murder charge, and the
''unwritten law" has entered into the
case.
Today's testimony offered by the
prosecution concerned the position of
the body of Garland when found, the
location of the bullet wounds and pre-
paration Of a diagram of the room in
the McRee home where the killing
occurred The jurymen visited the
McRee home and observed the setting
Of the tragedy. There is no hint of
the motive so far. Witnesses first on
the scene after the shooting declared
there were no signs OF a struggle,
JURY COMPLETED.
The jury was completed at 9:40
last night. The selection of the last
of the twelve men who are to decide
the fate OF the prisoner came after
the defense had exhausted its last
peremptory challenge. The twelfth
juror, George Fontenot, aged Fl and
farmer, whose father is an intimate
personal friend of District Attorney
X. Lee Garland, was reluctantly ac-
cepted by the defense after each OF
the seven lawyers representing Mrs.
McRee had participated in rapid fire
OF questions In an effort to make Fon-
tenot disqualify himself.
During the fight of almost two
hours to keep Fontenot off the Jury,
Mrs. McRee. for the frts time. show
ed signs of great emotion and ex-
treme nervousness. She alternately
clasped and unclasped the hand of her
husband, grabbed the arm of her
chair or twisted and unrolled her
handkerchief. She constantly moved
her head from side to side and at
times bit her lips or clenched her
teeth IN an effort to restrain her feel
ings.
aMr. Fontenot," said Attorney ]. C.
Hunter, you are a friend of the Gar
lands. Now, this is matter for your
conscience, Mr.. Fontenot, and remem-
If you are accepted as a juror in this
case will you disregard your friend
ship for Mr.. Garland and give the ac-
cused the benefit Of any reasonable
doubt?"
This was the final question from
counsel for the defense and Mr.. Fon-
tenot, with the same inexpensive
countenance that had greeted the
hundreds of other questions from the
lawyers on that side replied firmly:
'T will"
do you accept this man as a
Juror" asked the court.
"Our challenges are exhausted" said
Captain Henriques, chief counsel for
the defense, turning aside in a manner
which indicated his disappointment
Fontenot was then sworn and after
a warning not to discuss the case with
any one, nor among themselves, the
twelve men were released for the
night.
INDICTMENT READ.
A rule of sequestration was applied
TO all the witnesses in the case after
which Acting District Attorney Du-
buisson read the indictment charging
Mrs. McRee with the murder of young
Garland. AS the prosecutors words,
Did kill and murder with malice
aforethought," were uttered all eyes in
the court room were centered upon the
defendant, whose face failed to ex-
press the slightest emotion. Dr. r.
M. Little, coroner of ST. Landry par
fish, was the first witness. He stated
that he reached the McRee home on
Sept 81 about half an hour after the
shooting and found the body Of AL
Ian Garland on the floor in the north
east room. He said there were two
beds in this room, one child's bed.
"The body was lying near rocking
chair" began the coroner. Here
counsel interrupted to ask If the chair
had been brought into court. The
chair was sent for, but 1t was after