Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1915-12-20
TWINS IN COURT
WITH MOTHER ON
TRIAL FOR MURDER
Mrs. Margaret Jensen, of Belle
vile, Charged With StrangIing
Newborn Child.

Accused of numbering her day-old
baby girl Mrs. Margaret Jensen.
thirty three years old, of 10 Dawson
street, Belleville. went on trial for
her life in the Court of Oyer and
Terminer today before Judge Harry
V. Osborne and a jury. The prosecu-
ton contends that Mrs. Jensen
strangled the child, telling her neigh
bors that she didn't want any more
children.
Mrs. Jensen's husband Emil. and
their two boys. thres-year- twins,
were present when she was brought
into court in charge of a guard. The
boys climbed up into her lap when
she was seated beside her counsel and
hugged and kissed her until taken
away by their father. Mrs. Jensen
broke down and cried bitterly while
she held the youngsters
During the examination of pros
pective jurymen, Judge Osborne dis
missed Thomas w stephens, of 60
Highland avenue, Montclair, presi-
dent of the Bank of Montclair and
the. Montclair Savings Bank, from
further service on the jury panel, de-
c1aring him unfit to serve the county
in that capacity"
Mr.. Stephens told the prosecutor he
had scruples against capital punish
ment. The court interrogated him re-
garding the extent to which he would
allow his personal opinions sway
him in reaching verdict. and he re-
piled that he could not under. any
circumstance vote to execute human
being"
aAny man who will put his personal
opinion before the law and the re-
q1irements of his OATH" said the
court. SIS unfit to Serve the county a.
a. iuryman You are, therefore. dis
missed from further service on this
panel"
Another juryman, Harry r. De
Mund. a negro, of 1T5iz Pennsylvania
avenue, told the court. when asked if
ne had formed any opinion as to the
defendants innocence or guilt, that he
had been approached" by man in
the Center Market a few days ago.
The man said to him, he declared,
"rhat Belleville case is coming up
during your term. If I was on the
jury I'd acquit her"
The court directed the attention Of
the prosecutor to De Mund'S state
ment with view to taking further
action. The man, according TO the
i1yrvnan, was Louis Corbitt, a steve
dore, of East Park street.
Twins Dressed in Check Suits.
The twin sons of the defendant were
dressed in check suits with white
collars. They sat on a bench direct
ly behind their mother and between
Alderman Herbert L. Thowless and
their father. Mr.. Thowless assisted
Jacob L. Newman, who is defending
Mrs. Jensen, in the presentation Of
the case.
The defense will be, it is understood,
that the new born babe met its death
accidentally, the mother claiming that
II was smothered while she slept Ac-
cording to Assistant Prosecutor An
drew Van Blarcom's opening state
ment to the jury. the State will prove
that the child was alive when born
and was strangled by human hand,
finger marks being found on the
throat.
According to the defendant herself
she is thirty-three years old, but in
court today she appeared nearer
fifty. Her hair is beginning to gray,
deep lines showed in her face and
she appeared very nervous and
worried. She has been in Jail since
the date of the alleged crime, Au-
gust 3.
Charles Troxler, a barber. of S99
Bergen street, was the first juryman
drawn satisfactory to both sides, and
he acted as foreman.