Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-01-05
CT. DRUM, SLAYER
OF BLUECOAT, fUI
ON TRIAL FOR LIFE.
Former County Engineer Un-
moved as He Faces Charge
of Murder.
EAST ORANGE MAN
is JURY'S FOREMAN
State Declares That Shooting
of Mcdonald Last Summer
Was Premeditated.

Before court room full of inter
ested spectators mostly friends of
the accused man, former County En-
gineer George F.. Drum was placed
on trial today before Judge Harry
V. Osborne for the murder of Po-
liceman John T. Mcdonald, on July
IL, last.
Drum came into court guarded by
two court attendants. He took his
seat alongside Frank M. McDermit
his counsel
Judge Osborne late this afternoon
signed an order for Mr.. McDermit al
lowing the lawyer to subpoena forty
more witnesses. This will make the
number of the defense's witnesses siT-
ty-fiye. This is taken to Indicate that
the defense will make every effort to
prove the prisoner insane.
Drum loxed to be in far better
physical condition than at the time
of the murder last July. He was not
at all nervous and acted more like
a spectator than a man on trial for
his life.
1t took almost two hours to obtain
twelve men to try the case, number
of the talesmen examined seeking to
be excused because they were friends
of the accused man. Most of those
who claimed personal acquaintance
were excused.
Frank Purssell, of 561 Main street,
East Orange, a caterer, was finally
selected as foreman of the jury. The
case was formally opened by Assist
ant Prosecutor Andrew Van Blar-
com. He said the State would prove
that the murder of Mcdonald was a
cold -blooded one, committed after
Drum had taken plenty Of time to
think over an alleged wrong done
him by Mcdonald.
The murder took place shortly after
noon on July IL last outside the saloon
of Thomas Craig, Central avenue and
Second street. Drum, the night pre-
vious, had been keeping score in a
card game in which Mcdonald and
others were taking part. An argument
arose, but was soon apparently ami
cably settled.
The next day Mcdonald. who was
on leave of absence from the Second
precinct, was standing outside the
Craig saloon talking to couple of
friends Drum approached. After a
few words Drum drew a revolver and
shot Mcdonald. the bullets entering
the abdomen and causing wounds
from which the victim died a short
time later.
Thomas Craig. the saloonkeeperi
was the first witness called, He told
OF THO quarrel in his saloon on Fri
tisy Night. July IL. McDopald and
other& were playing cards. Craig tes-
tified Drum kept the score of the
game
"McDonald accused Drum of look
ing in his hand and telling the other
players what cards he had," CRAIG
testified. He went on: Drum denied
the charge. Mcdonald then called
him liari" A
Drum replied you're another.
Then the other players stepped in and
quieted the two men. The game was
then resumed with Drum still keep
ing the score. Drum and Mcdonald
were apparently friendly when they
left the saloon an hour later"
From Craig and Thomas Doyle and
Lofts Hollander, the witnesses that
followed him, Mr.. McDermit on cross
examination tried to show that Nc
Donald had threatened Drum after
their quarrel. Nothing of any impor-
tance was brought out, however.
George Conway, patrolman, tes-
titled that he was purchasing a pack
of cigarettes in the saloon and over
heard the quarrel between Drum and
Mcdonald He thought it was moth
ing serious and left to go to his honne,
being off duty at the time. About five
minutes afterward, as he repasse the
corner of Second street and Central
avenue, he met Drum and Mcdonald
bidding each other goodnight He
said he heard Drum say:
John, if we weren't such good
friends I would never have taken
what l have from you"
In selecting the jury McDermit
questioned each about his ideas in re-
gard to insanity and self-defense rs
defenses for homicide. That the de-
fendant would claim self-defense was
indicated by the trend of the tues
tions of the talesmen and later of the
States witnesses.
The State was evidently prepared
to contravent any insanity plea
seemed apparent when DR.. William
Hicks and DR.. Walter S. Washington
were present on subpoenas from the
State. No alienists for the defense
were on hand.
The jury, besides the foreman. are
Charles e. Matt, cigarmaker, New
ark; Benjamin Quackenbush, drug
gist, East Orange; H. Olson, ma
chinist, Newark; Frank Kidde Mont
clair; r. S. Adams, accountant, New
ark; Alvah Yawger, halter, West Or
ange; Robert F. Bolton, merchant,
East Orange; E. v. Eckert, jeweler,
Newark; George A. Newman, sales
man, East Orange; Fred Koenig,
clerk, Newark; Lawrence O'Rourke,
H. r.