The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-08-22

not true. That is called a hypothetl-
cal opinion
II object 10 tina. definition" inter
rupted Mr.. Carter. "A decided opin-
ion is not necessarily a fixed opinion"
81 Will amend It," answered the
court. rs your opinion based on the
| assumption that the newspapers are
correct in their accounts?" asked the
court, again addressing himself to
Mr.. jackson.
Yes sir
do you think you would be biased
in your Judgment"
II think I would be-"
Stand aside"
| r. Hill covington was the third
called He is q voter. has lived ell his
life in Chesterfield. and is about TWEEN
| ty-fve years old
Have you read the papers?" asked
| Judge Watson.
i've read them very little" was the
| answer.
Gould you give the prisoner fair
| trial?"
Yes. sir"
you have formed no opinion" asked
Mr.. Carter. of the defense.
NO. sir: haven't any"
| Mr.. Covington was accepted.
c. T. Wilkinson, next called is not
I, related to Beattie or the deceased. and
had no personal knowledge of the
crime. He had read the papers fairly
closely. he said
Have you formed an opinion as to
! the case?" he was asked.
mo, sir. Only one side OF the case
has been printed"
HAS anything in the papers caused
you to form an opinion biased to the
prisoner"
Guided by Evidence.
Il think / could deport myself so as
| to be influenced only by the evidence"
replied Mr.. Wilkinson.
Have you any scruples as TO the
! inniction of death as a pennlty pre-
scribed by law"
The law prescrlbes the punishment,
and ! must support the law" came as
the steady reply.
You have no fixed opinion?" asked
| Mr.. Carter.
NO, sir. My mind would be guided
| only by the evidence"
John T. Dance was called
There was a little noise in the court
| room as Mr.. Dance stepped forward.
| Sheriff. keep the courtroom quiet
ordered Judge Watson.
| stop that talking" said the sheriff
/ half rising from his seat at the foot
OF the bench. They seem only to be
scufiing little" he said. turning to
the court. He laughed little. and
another murmur passed through the
| room. But 1t was quiet again within
a III oment.
| Dance was not related to either the
| prisoner or his dead wife. had formed
no opinion. was not prejudiced against
the prisoner and could give him n fair
! trial. He had expressed no opinion.
He had lived nearly all his life in Ches-
| terrified county. and is about fifty years
! old. He said he would not be deferred
! In rendering decision by the fact
that the extreme penalty for first de-
gree murder is death.
Are you absolutely unprecedented? o.
! asked Mr.. Smith, of the defense.
Yes. sir"
MIR. Dance was accepted.
, Wait moment" requested tn.
court II forgot to ask Mr.. Wilkinson
question. Mr.. Wilkinson. are Won a
citizen of Chesterfield county,"
Yes SIR"
HOW long have you lived here?"
| Only about two months moved
from here to Lynchburg. and then
| moved back"
"Have you a vote here?"
| NO. sir"
|
| NO. SIR" and the venireman eS-
planned that he had not received his
transfer. owing to circumstances over
which he had no control. He was ex-
cused.
Formed No Opinion.
/. l.. Wilson was then called After
ne mad answered the usual preliminary
! questions. he was asked IL he had rea d
I the papers
|
don't read the papers much" he
repiied. Il can read" he explained
thinking 1t might be considered that
he didn't read much because he couldn',
read well. II haven't much faith In
| newspapers" he went on. II read
ABOUT three accounts of the murder
and did not read the papers every day..
Have you formed an opinion?"
NO, sir. / couldn't. l don't believe
: much in the papers. can give fair
| trial."
The defense did not question him
and he was accepted.
! "a +. Bardwell." called the clerk.
| Mr.. Bardwell has lived in Chester
| field twelve years. and is registered
voter He was not related to prisoner
or his dead wife. He said he read the
! papers every day.
Have they caused you to form an
| opinion?" he was asked
They have gone a pretty good WAYS
to make me form an opinion" he an
| swercd.
Gould you give the prisoner fair
trial?" asked Mr.. Wendenburg.
Yes, sir. think could give him
| n square deal"
But he added that it would take
pretty strong evidence to make him
| change his opinion. He was ordered
to stand aside for the time being.
A. L. Fetterolf said he had feao
nearly all the accounts of the crime.
But the papers had had no effect In
making him form an opinion. and nc
had formed none. The papers were
one-stded. he said He has been In
Chesterfield twenty-five years. and Is
n voter No questions were asked by
the defense. and he was accepted
Then came ]. II. Fry. lie has lived
In Chesterfield twenty-five years. but
q mr. ~.