The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1911-09-20

mined if possible to get jurors who
| have read little or nothing concern
| ing the Dumas case.
E. e. Mcdonald for the state went
| into the matter of talismen having
formed an opinion.
Kyler is Excused.
In the examination OF John Kyler
of Spooner Attorney Mcdonald
quizzed him closely regarding the
burning of his property sometime ago
and as to the effect of the forest fires
at Baudette and Spooner last fall up
on him as to his interest in news of
this character. Mr.. Kyler admitted
that he never would forget the big
fires but there was something about
his manner that the state did not
like and he was dismissed.
Peter Sarf, the next prospective
juror examined. said he lived in
Funkley where he operates the coal
house for the Minnesota and Interna-
tional and that he came to Funkley
hrst newspaper account Of the Dumas
case was read by him in the Daily
Pioneer about month ago.
| Hadn't you heard any discussion
| of the. case queried Judge Spooner :
'"Oh. I had heard a little" he re-
piled, but l read no newspapers at
the time of the trial.
Ripple Laughter.
A ripple Of laughter was produced
when Judge Spooner asked,
Mr.. Sarf, what are your working
hours?"
"Well, I work from 5 o'clock in the
morning until 10:15 at night" re-
piled the witness.
well, you don't have much time
for gossip" admitted Judge Spooner.
''Of course I don't work that long
every day." explained Mr.. Sarf.
At this point Judge McClenahan
said he would declare recess but
first wished to know if the state de-
sired that the jury in the Dumas
case should be confined.
1--WE have no suggestion to offer,'
replied Mr. Mcdonald.
Does the defense wish me to so
instruct" said the court turning to
Judge Spooner and when that attor-
ney had signifed following confer
ence with the other attorneys for the
defense, that he would leave it to the
Judge, the court announced:
Jury to Be Locked Up.
"My experience in cases Of such
Importance has been that it is desir-
able to cut off the jury from any pos
sible outside influence and as much
as I dislike to cause these men such
inconvenience, l shall have to assume
the responsibility for such step.
| The sheriff will appoint some one to
take charge and any arrangement
for comfort can be made
Deputy Sheriff Morrison was sworn
in to guard the jury.
Following the dismissal of Sarf,
Otto Smith of Blackjack, log scaler,
was examined for jury duty and ac-
cepted
E. J. Gould. a Bemidji merchant,
was next up and both sides were con-
WINGED that he would be fair and he
soon found himself in the jury box as
Juryman No. 3.
Then came John Workman, Red
Lake Iaborer, who finally was chal-
Ienged for actual bias by the state
and this was sustained by the court
and Workman was dismissed.
Trial to Last Two Weeks.
1t developed during the course OF
the morning session, that the state
expects to consume about week Or
ten days in the presentation OF its
evidence and that the complete trial
probably will extend over a period
of more than two weeks.
Copies of the Daily Pioneer were
piled on the table in front of the
attorneys for the defense and Judge
Spooner made frequent reference to
them, asking the talisman if he had
read such and such an article deal
irg with the Dumas case.
Sam Benson was the next man
called for jury service and he was
challenged at 4 o'clock, just before
20 ofrt 10,