The sea coast echo., 1913-12-13
BILbO ATTORNEYS
MAKE ASSAULT ON
DRAWING Of Jury
Motion to Quash Indictment Because
Of Alleged Irregular
Methods.
Vicksburg, Dec. 9.

Lieutenant Governor Theo. G. Bib
and State Senator G. A. Hobbs wa
irregular.y drawn was a charge mad
by the defense when the cases of tn
two were called here yesterday. Thi
was brought out when a motion wa
made to quash the indictments.
The grand jury that found the in
dictments was a special body an,
made the returns against Bilbo ant
Hobbs the day after it was convened
The regular jury reported that it fin
ished its work and wis discharged Dec
/. On Dec. 2. new grand jury wa;
drawn and on Dec. 3 the Indictment;
were returned
SHERIFF ON THE STAND.
The defense yesterday charged tina,
the sheriff arranged the list from
which the new jury was impaneleC
and that the list was not submitted tt
the court as usual in Mississippi. L
IS even charged that certain names
were arbitrarily eliminated.
During the afternoon Sheriff Hy-
land was placed on the stand anG
questioned with regard to the i'm
paneling of the grand jury.> The
sheriff testified that he had net con-
suited with or been directed by any
one. Asked by the defense if he was
an anti-Bilbo man, Mr. Hyland said
he said not know whether he would
be for or against him.
Court adjourned half an hour
earlier than usual, as two witnesses
for the defense Frederick Sullens and
Howard Williams, of the Jackson
News, had not arrived. They reached
the city last night, but after a few
minutes consultation with counsel,
they were informed they would not be
needed.
WANTS HEARING IN OPEN.
The case was called at IL o'clock,
the courtroom being crowded. w. j.
Groom, for the defense, presented a
motion which District Attorney ]. d.
Thames asked to be permitted to ex-
anime. The prosecutor said it con-
tanned certain statements that were
untrue and requested that it be read
in the cloakroom.
Vigorous opposition was made to
this by the counsel for the defense,
who insisted that what was said
should be said in the courtroom, from
which the jury might be excluded if
necessary.
District Attorney Thames disclaim-
ed any improper motive in asking for
the conference, but said he did not
wish the public to be biased for or
against the defendants.
81 do not want the men who are to
try this case to hear the motion of the
defense, and there are grave and i'm
portant reasons why the matters set
forth should be taken up in cham
hers," he said
IS READ IN CLOAKROOM.
Mr.. Groom charged in reply that
Mr.. Thames asserted the motion was
made for political effect. He said the
law provided for trials in open court,
and the court had no right to exclude
hearers when the testimony was sala-
cious. He stood on his right and
declined to leave the courtroom.
Judge Mounger at this point ruled
n favor Of the proposal. He said he
had always consented to hear motions
in an ante-room, and would make no
exception in this case.
After this ruling Judge Pat Henry
for the defense, also asked for hear
ing in the courtroom, saying the mo-
tion was simply one step in the trial,
and stated the defense was ready to
prove every allegation of the motion.
He denied that it was prepared for
polit cal effect unless politics had al
ready entered the case, in which case
"it should be shown up He admitted
that the motion contained imputa-
tions, but said every one could be
proved.
The ruling of the court prevailed,
and the motion was heard in the
cloakrooni.