Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-07-09
SECURING A JURY
IN MORROW CASE
Woman on Trial for the Muir
der of Husband Watches
All Talesmen Closely.
ASKED ABOUT MASONRY
Victim of Tragedy Was a Member and
Widow Belonged to the
Eastern Star.

Chicago, July $50 rigid was the !
examination OF veniremen that the
opening day OF the trial Of Mrs. Rena
B. Morrow for the murder OF her hus.
band resulted in the tentative accept
ance of single turyman. He is Al
bert H. Aylesworth, a whisky dealer
residing in Wilmette.
Henry Mathis, 4731 North Eberly
avenue, who is advertising manager of
the Fair, and Eugene F. Bischoff, River
Forest, secretary OF the Rolfe Bros.
Manufacturing company, were still in
the box at adjournment of court.
Fourteen men were subjected to an
unusually large number of questions
put by counsel The conduct of the
prospective jurymen during their ex-
animation was closely observed. Their
characters were carefully scrutinized.
Both Assistant States Attorney John
E. Northup and Attorney Charles E.
Erbstein proceeded with caution
All but two Of the IL men excused
admitted they had read about the case
and asserted they had formed opinions
which it would take evidence to alter.
would the fact that the defendant
| is woman influence you in any way?"
was asked by attorneys for both sides.
Only one responded that sex would fig
I,ra IN hjc determination tIa mn. Iob,
C. Roach, 1902 Van Buren street.
real estate dealer. He said he would
| not impose the death penalty upon
woman. Other questions were:
do you believe in convictipg on cir
cumstantial evidence?"
Would you infiict the death penalty
on circumstantial evidence in a proper
case?"
Are you a member of any fraternal
organiZation?"
QUESTIONED ABOUT MASONRY.
Charles B. Morrow was a Mason, and
Mrs. Morrow is a member of the East
ern Star. Aylesworth Is a Mason but
he seemed likely to be acceptsas- -ay
both sides. He asserted the fact that
both the deceased and the defendant
belonged to an order Of which he is a
member would not affect his judgment
Mathis is a Shriner and Bischoff Is a
Mason. Assistant States Attorney
| Northup is a Shriner. Attorney for
Mrs. Morrow asked the Masons If the
Shrine pin would influence them in
their findings.
Mrs. Morrow gave her undivided at
tention to the searching inspection of
the jurymen. Her eyes seldom stray
ed from the face Of the man who was
being examined. When her attorney
finished, he conferred with her She
stances. Mrs. Morrow was in mourn.
ing Her black hat was trimmed with
black ostrich plumes. She wore black
: silk gloves, a black satin gown, black
= silk stockings, and black oxfords. She
also carried a black silk fan. She was
accompanied by her sister, Mrs. Fred
Foster Of Los Angeles, with whom she
, frequently held brief whispered con
versations.
FOUND DEAD ON PORCH.
Morrow's body was found frozen or
: the rear porch of his residence, 454;
Michigan avenue, on the morning o.
Dec. % last. Death was caused by two
gunshOt wounds, one through the brair
and another through the heart. A
coroner's jury returned a verdict o
t suicide.
= A police investigation disclosed tn,
j fact that Mrs. Morrow had quarreleC
j with her husband the night before tn,
c finding of the body. This led to he
arrest. 1t is the police theory tha
: Mrs. Morrow shot her husband I,
make way for Harry Gilmore, former
= ly of Rock Island, ILL.,, her alleged al
finity.