The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1914-06-15
LAWYERS CLAIM PUBLIC
SENTIMENT AGAINST HIM
Also Want Continuance So Defendant
Can Arrange to Pay His Counsel
Declare Many False Rumors Have
Perjured Public Mind Against De-
fendant.

Judge j. NJ. Arnold, Saturday after
noon, overruled the petition of Joseph
Staiger, charged with the murder of
A. p. Miller, asking through his attor-
neys, ]. E. Travis and Stone Deavours,
for a continuance of his case. A spe-
!. cial venire of fifty men has been sum-
noned for tomorrow morning from
which the jury, which will try the case,
will be selected. The case is set for
tomorrow morning.
One of the grounds on which the Pc
tition for the continuance of the case
is asked by the lawyers for the defense
is that Staiger has not been able to
make the necessary financial arrange
ments to compensate his counsel.
Counsel for the accused also claimed
that at the present time the infamed
state of the public mind is not propiti-
GUS for fair and impartial trial Pub.
lie opinion, they state in the petition,
has been aroused against Staiger by
the circulation of false reports and
rumors. They claimed further that
Staiger was removed from his friends
and relatives by a distance Of 800
miles and that he needs time in which
to get in touch with them to have them
come here to testify in his behalf
Another ground for the continuance.
of the case, they claimed, was that the
district attorney said the state expect
ed to prove that Staiger had made
. threats against Miller and that because
of his confinement he has been unable
to run down this false and untrue tes-
timony and that fairness demands that
he may have the opportunity of making
defense against such witnesses.
Would Summons Witnesses.
The lawyers for the defense also ask
ed for time to show by testimony that
Staiger did not arm himself and then
provoke difficulty with Miller as they
believe the state will attempt to prove
They asked for time in order that they
may summon from Kansas City, Stai-
gers former home, witnesses who have
known him from childhood to show his
reputation for peace or violence. The
names of these witnesses, the bill
states, are: Henry Burr, G. E. Runyon,
W. M. Drennon, DR.. E. J. Morrow, A.
P. Rothchild, and H. w. Phillips.
The petition states that the applica-
tion was not made for delay, but in or
der that justice may be done, and that
no witness is absent by the connivance
cr consent of the defense
~ II is also mentioned that the two
lawyers have been engaged y other
= matters and have not had time'to pre-
pare the case as was befitting capi-
tai offense. 1t was stated that Mr..
Travis and Mr.. Deavours are the law
yers of Staiger's choice, because they
have been associated with him before
in connection with the lumber COM
.,pany by which they were employed
and that he had made a contract with
them for defending him, which he
would be unable to carry out If the
case came to trial before the Novem-
Ter term of court.
Petition Overruled.
.Tnuge Arnold, after weighing all the
reasons given by the lawyers for the
defense why the case should be COIL
tinued, decided that there should be
no further delay, but will take the
case up for trial tomorrow.
The first and most important thing
before the court tomorrow morning
will be the selection of jury from the
NIFTY men who have been summoned
Xyrhe court does not anticipate grea'
- amount Of difficulty in the selection
of the jury.
aft is never absolutely certain ina
an important criminal case will D'
tried until after the jury is impan
neled." a leading attorney SAID 'oua!
CONTINUED or Page Four.'