The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-04-02
THE O'NEAL CASE
IS NOW WITH JURY
Miqht Session Ended at
1890 But More To-
morrow
a HOTlY CONTESTED
CASE ENDS TOMORROW

Defendant Took the Stand and Said
He Shot in Self-Defcnse-Had
Nothing Against the Dead Man
Evidence OF Threats Also Submit
ted-Homicide Occurred in Wake
Forrest Township-The Defendant
Was Out on BOnd-Was Put on
Trial for First Degree Murder.
With two speeches in the ONeal
murder case. following every effort
To finish the case yesterday, Judge
Webb sent the jury to sleep last night
and announced that the case would
be finished tomorrow.
There will be no other court, how
ever. Judge Webb discharged the
Jury for the second week and Sheriff
Sears has authorized all people 10
pass tn. word along. There will be no
need Of the second week jurors to-
morrow morning as the O'Neal case
will be finished and all other cases
lave been continued.
1t was widen yesterday afternoon
that the case could not be tried COM
plete. 1t vas worked rapidly but
carefully. The attorneys for the two
sides refrained from calling more
witnesses than they could be expected
to Introduce and there was an effort
to get the speeches cut down. But
at tho close Of the evidence at $3.50
Solicitor Norris indicated that it
would be impossible to agree to an
hour on each side. referring to his
associate, Mr.. +. w. Undertake, Jr.,
Of Wake Forest. Mr.. Norris said: my
friend will want to speak two hours"
but he didn't. Mr.. Mills, Of Wake
Forest. for the defense, replied In a
speech Of less han an hour.
There will be speeches by Messrs.
w. b. and Armistead Jones tomorrow
morning and Solicitor Norris will con
the showing made. They brought out
all that there was in it.
The homicide occurred Christmas
day and Earle Patrick Hall. the dead
man. lived eleven days, dying finally
from tetanus or lockjaw. O'Nel was
bound over to our under a bono OF
$500 and gave it. He is a man Of
some means.
The plea of self defense was indi-
Gated when the defendan was put on
the stand and the defense is relying
on it. The State insists upon first de-
gree murder.
The selection of the jury was
AdiOu formula and over it was tn
real fight yesterday. b special We
nire of twenty-five was almost e
hausted in challenges for cause, with
on cause. diSmiSSals in the natura
course Of things and standing venire
men down at the foot Of the panel.
The States disadvantage was we
shown in the use OF the peremptor
challenge. Solicitor Norris exhauste
his four and the defense emplOye
fourteen OF its twenty-three. Beside
using all that he had, Mr.. Norris stoO
his allotted 10 per cent, or seven G
the foot OF the panel and trusted t
luck in the selection Of the remainde
Mr.. Armistead Jones, who chose tn
jury for his client, went through til
formula: Juror. look upon the pr!
oner: prisoner, look Upon the juro
10 you like him? No all of the -four
teen times. There was no way to il
dictate what especial qualifications tt
State or the defense desired the ju.
ors to have. Only one man expresse
his objection to capital puniShmel
and only n believed hat he Wou
bs Unable to divest his mind Of pref,
dice. There had been very little e.
preston OF opinion.
Relatives Sit With Him.
Though II prisoner had been
liberty under a bond Of $500 ey
since January. the State proceed,
upon the theory of murder in the fir
degree and put up pretty strong test
mony to back it up. The arraignme
OF tue prisoner took place before t.
largest Of the term al
there was considerable interest in it,
The Jury Selected.
Six of the regular Jurors we
chosen for the capital case and tn
began the hot contest over the 9th
six. An amusing incident was t
picking of Juror Joe Partin. He h
been asked less than half the uus
lions which constitute a cause I
challenge, when he said: 4 think
have been IN the jury-but he h
looked upon the prisoner and the or
oner had looked upon him and t
man tried liked him. At 1920 I
jury had been completed and the ca
was ready for trial.
In the bar sat the aged father
the prisoner. Mr.. j. r. O'Neal.
hrofhar L. L AtNaal lie -.