Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1915-04-26
CRAIG PLACED
ON TRIAL FOR
DUAL MURDER
Charged With Staying Miss
Hetty Reeve and Mrs. Mamie
Clark Feb. 20.
ACCUSED CLAIMS THAT
MISS REEVE DID SHOOTING
Comes Into Court With Jaunty
Air and Faces
Wife.

Hiram E. Craig, of Jersey City,
slayer of two women in this city on
February 20. was placed on trial for
his life before Judge William P. Mar
tin in the Court OF oyer and Ter
miner today.
Craig is alleged to have shot to
death Miss Hetty Reeve, thirty-six
years old, and Mrs. Mamie Clark,
forty-one years old, in the latter's
home. $50 South Orange avenue.
Craig himself was shot. The State
contends the wounds were self-in-
fiicted. The defense will attempt to
prove that only one of the wounds
was self-inf1icted and that the other,
the one through the head, was in
f1fcted by Miss Reeve.
Craig's interests will be looked
after by Frank M. McDermit, of the
law firm of McDermit & McDermit,
assisted by William Azzoli end Joseph
R. Woodruff. The defense will be
that the Reeve woman shot Mrs.
Clark, herself and Craig and that the
latter wrested the pistol from Miss
Reeve and sent another bullet into
his body. The defense will further at
tempt to prove that the shooting was
the result of frenzy Miss Reeve was
thrown into upon finding in Craig's
pocket letter in woman's hand
writing.
Craig entered the courtroom today
with jaunty step, and apparently
in good spirits. He wore natty blue
striped suit and as he neared his
counsel he extended his hand and
shook it warmly with Mr.. McDermit.
I'm feeling fine," he told his
counsel.
To newspaper reporters Craig an
nounced that he felt confident he
would be freed.
when all the facts are presented
to the jury" he said, II feel certain
verdict will be returned in my
favor.
"The real facts in this case never
have been published" he continued.
II want the public to know that !
didn't shoot anybody and that I will
have little trouble in proving it,"
Dead Womap's Dau ghter Main Witness.
Miss Martha Clark, daughter of the
murdered woman, who viii be the
star witness for the State, was pres
ent in court, wearing deep mourning.
"Craig murdered my mother" she
said to a representative of the Eve
ming Star, land if he gets just dues
he will go to the electric chair for it.
If ever a man deserved it he does"
she said as tears filled her eyes.
The drawing of the jury began at
1O:4O a. m. Charles T. Dressed, jr.,
of 121 Central avenue, Newark. among
others called, was excused because OF
his views on capital punishment.
The first juror was drawn within
five minutes after the drawing began.
He was George Weiderman, of 81
Hunterdon street, Newark, a stone
worker. He was satisfactory to both
the defence and the prosecution, and
by reason of his being the first selec-
ton will act as foreman of the jury.
The other jurors are: Richard
Barrett, 1853 Sixth street; Casper
Gropp, 119 Washington avenue, Irv-
ington; Abraham Ackerman, % Ferry
street; William O'Connor, 118 Morris
avenue; Arthur E. Kastner, IA Elm
street; Edward Cottrell, 203 Thir-
teenth avenue, this city; Henry Fl.
Robson, 70 Willett street, Bloomfield;
Morris Cohen, 100 Ferry street; Chris
tian Figuero, SO Madison avenue;
Henry Hopper, 191 Fairmount avenue,
and Thomas ]. Parvin, % Nichols
street Newark.
Because of challenges on both sides,
the special panel of jurors was ex-
hausted after eleven jurors had been
drawn. The drafts had to be made
from the general panel.
1t took sixty-fv minutes. to draw
the jury, the twelfth juror being Sc
lected at 11:45 a. m.
History of the Crime.
Several hours before the double
tragedy, Craig called at the home of
Mrs. Clark. His ring was answered
by Martha Clark, the twenty-one-
year-old daughter of Mrs. Clark.
Craig asked about Miss Reeve and
was told she had gone to the Arion
ball in the Krueger Auditorium. He
then inquired about Mrs. Clark and
CONTINUED on Page 2, Column 6.)