Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-10-11
SHEFFIELD WOMAN WHO KILLED
HER HUSBAND PLACED ON
TRIAL At HAMPTON,
GOOD PROGRESS MADE
IN SECURING A JURY
Court Room Filled With Spectators
and Trial Promises to Attract People
From All Parts Of county-Mrs.
Rush Confident Of Acquittai-Juryo Of
Young Farmers.
Special to Times Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Hampton, Oct. ll.-Confident that
she will be acquitted and freed, Mrs
Aletha Rush, at o'clock this morn
ing. appeared before Judge r. NJ
Wright in the district court to begin
thru her attorneys, the battle for her
liberty and. perhaps. for her life, on a
charge Of numbering her husband. Will
lard A. Rush, at Sheffield, Aug 4.
From the time court convened until
noon the monotonous but important
work of securing jury was continued
without intern1ission. When court ad-
journcd for lunch indications were that
the jury would be secured this after
noon. The lawyers were Of that opin-
ion.
Up until noon the jury box had been
filled with twelve men, none of whom
had been removed for cause by the ex-
animation Of II. c. Liggett, who is as
sisting County Attorney S. A. Clock, or
E. P. Andrews, one Of Mrs. Rusfl's at
torneys.
With the jury box flied, the first of
the ten peremptory challenges each
side is entitled to had been exercised
by the state. BY 1t F. d. Hubbard,
a rural mail carrier OF Sheffield, was
ordered to step aside.
Jury Panel Sufficient.
In addition to the panel Of fifty jur-
ors. drawn for the term, a pane;
of twenty-five was drawn for this
case. This number was reduced to
sixty-four by excuses and from them
the jury will be secured. The remain
ing nineteen peremptory challenges the
combined sides have to exercise this
afternoon can not exhaust the panel.
More than twenty jurymen were ex-
amtned this morning. each Of whom
was excused for cause. as having form
ed an opinion that could not be chang
ed. The examination of the jurors was
searching. the defense especially pry-
ing into all the details Of the Jurors
life that might. in any way, have a
bearing on the opinion.
Jurors Average Young.
Judging by the more than twenty
ing. the jury will be young. 1t Is likely
farmers. The average age Of those ex-
amined this morning was scarcely more
than 80 years. OF the number ques-
toned three were opposed to the death
sentence for q woman indicted for iirst
degree murder. One OF these was ex-
cusd for cause, but the other two re-
matned as prospective Jurors when
court adjourned
1t was explained to each, however.
that the jury could fix the sentence
in case of conviction, to either death or
life imprisonment. All OF those ex-
amined 80 far are more or less familiar
with the case.
Many Attend Trial.
When court was convened the big
court room was almost filled. and in
terest all about town and the county
n III surrounding county Is centered in
the trial. Many Of the spectators are
from Sheffield from where most Of the
fifty witnesses have been subpoenaed
Among them were many women.
It is expected that standing room
only will be available as soon as the
routine work is over and the taking
of evidence is begun. Much of Shelf
fields population is siEnifving its in
tention Of attending the trial.
Will Plead Self Defense.
It became apparent soon after An
drews began examining the jurors that
the probable mainstay Of the defense
would be plea Of self defense.
A series Of questions for the purpose
Of establishing the jurors belief wheth-
er or not a woman had the same right
as had a man to defend herself against
the intended assault OF a man, and
whether the husband had any more
right 70 assault his wife than any
other man had, developed this. Later
Mr.. Andrews verified his intention TO
plead self defense.
Mrs. Rush Confident.
AS she passed out Of the court house
to the Jail for her noon meal Mrs. Rush
expressed in no uncertain terms her
of acquittal. and indicated
her faith that the jury would set her
free. She appeared in good spirits. and
her sober face lightened and became
animated as she talked.
II know 1t will. know 1t will come
out right" she told the Times -Repub-
lican correspondent when asked her
opinion Of the result Of the trial
meaning that she knew the jury would
acquit her and the ordeal would end in
her freedom.
"T feel It can be no other way" she
said. as she followed Sheriff Millett oslt
Of the building.
Appears In Court Alone.
Mrs. Rush, escorted by the sheriff,
appeared in court unaccompanied by
any relatives or friends. A short time
later her aged father, b. F. Clay, OF
Osceola, a patriarch in appearance, en-.
tered the court room and sat near his
Other relatives from Osceola
who missed train connections are ex-
pected later. Mrs. Rush was clad from
head to foot in black, relieved only by
a narrow edging Of white around her
throat. She has a comely. almost
pretty face. regular features. and has
dark hair and eyes During her first
ICoa;iss~s>; - S9:Ss -. -.