Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-10-19
MRS. CARMAN, CALM
AND SMILING, FACES
CHARGEOF MURDER
Woman Accused of Killing
Husbands Patient Ar
raigned in Court-Appar-
emily Confident of Acquit-
tai.

MINEOLA, l. l., Oct l9.-Before a
crowd that packed the courtroom, with
scores of people surrounding the build
ing and fighting TO be admitted to the
small inclosure, the trial of Mrs. Flor
ence Conklin Carman for the murder Of
Mrs Louise Bailey, on June 30, in the
Carman home, was begun today before
Supreme Court Justice Charles H Kelby
and q jury in the Mineola Court House.
The Justice took his seat at 1910 o'clock,
and a few minutes later the prisoner,
the central figure In one of the most
celebrated murder cases In the history
of the State. entered the room and took
seat reserved for the counsel table.
Mrs. Carman was gowned plainly but
becomingly in a blue suit, and wore
white shirtwaist and small hat adorned
with a black and white ostrich plume.
Beyond a slight paleness the woman who
is accused of murder looked remarkably
well and did not show any signs OF her
long confinement in jail
CALM AND SMILING.
Smiling at her cousel, John J. Graham
and C. NJ. Levy. and her husband. Doctor
Carman, she showed the same remark
able coolness that characterized her dur
ing the Grand Jury inquiry last summer.
She did not appear a big agitated. on
the contrary, she seemed to be keenly
interested in the court proceedings with
out being worried by them
District Attorney Lewis J. smith with
many legal documents under his arm.
elbowed his way through the crowd and
took his seat alongside the prisoners
counsel Lying upon a table close TO Mr.
Smiths right hand was the dictograph
found in the Carman residence fe" days
after Mrs. Bailey had been shot 10 death
Before the time set Tor the opening OF
the case the court was jammed- All
seats had been occupied and the chairs
reserved for the lawyers, newspaper men
and a few privileged characters admitted
through the courtesy OF the Sherin and
other influential persons or Nassau Coun-
" were taken. The room can only ac-
commodate 3OJ persons, and those who
had urgent business at the trial were
first permitted 10 enter The $50 tales
men. from whom are TO be selected the l2
iuIymen to decide the fate or the pTis-
oner, filed into the courtroom and pre-
sented themselves TO Justice Kelby
Scores of men and women tried in vain
to get in, but since no spectators except
those having passes signed by Sheriff
Petit. were admitted few outsiders passed
the guards.
No time was lost In disposing Of the
trial preIiminsries. After the reading Of
tbe Indictment the nrst tslesman was
called Among the prospective jurors are
men in all walks Of life, including far
mers. merchants, lawyers. contractors,
clerical employees and many others Al
the outset the prosecuting attorney made
IL clear he wanted only middle-aged mar
ried men on the jury, men without
romance and who could not be swayed by
sentiment.
CONFIDENT OF ACQUITTAL
Doctor Carman expressed utmost con-
fdenoe today that within fortnight his
wife would be free to return to their
home. There Is the greatest sympathy
for the accused woman on Long Island
As the case vas discussed the opinion
was generally expressed that Mrs Car
man would be acquitted. Even though
she might be guilty, there were few who
believed p men could be found who
would sentence Mrs Carman 10 the cleo