Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-10-14
ROCKEFELLER IN GOOD
HUMOR AS JURY Is
DRAWN TO TRY HIM
Box Once Filled, But Chal-
lenges Cause Delay-Mil-
lionaire Apparently in
Robust Health
BILLION is REPRESENTED

NEW YORK, oct. A-Material progress
TO try William Rockefeller and other mill
lionaire directors OF the New York, New
Haven and Hartford Railroad who we're
arraigned yesterday In the United States
Court on a charge Of conspiracy. At the
noon recess today seven men had been
accepted tentatively, serving to discount
the prediction made by leading lawyers
at the outse. Of the trial that at least
a week would be occupied in filling the
jury box.
These seven were David NJ Flanagan,
Max Hartman. Albert q. Welden, Charles
f., Gleason George b. Raymond, Will
lam A. Tucker and Hugh Mclean.
After recess a score more talesmen
sought the Judge with excuses, but only
two were excused. After n prolonged ex-
animation by both defense and Govern
ment Paul Kraus qualified as juror. He
successfully answered all questions put to
him.
After John Joel was accepted as Juror
No. s Peter Wagner w. d. Douden, w.
]. Eccles and Andrew ]. Grace rapidly
qualified and the jury box was filled with
II men.
Nicoll then peremptorily challenged
Louden, and James Pegnam was called
in his place Tor questioning. Pegnam
was satisfactory to both sides, and the
box once more was filled. Nicoll then
peremptorily challenged Hugh Mclean.
Then the lawyers began examining ad-
ditional talesmen to again fill the box.
When court convened only about half
of the defendants were in court. As tho
clerk called the roll of talesmen, william
Il aE.lnA ~.
heartily at something said by his coun-
sci, Il. V. Lindabury.
Rockefeller. swinging a cane, wore a
black derby hat and a black necktie
His face was bronzed and ruddy, his
cheeks were round and smooth, and as
he laughed Eaily and greeted with a
handshake his co-defendants, he looked
anything but an invalid.
The only indicted New Haven director
not in court for trial is George NJ Miller,
81 years old, who is sick at his home in
Morristown. N. ].
Perhaps never before was there such an
aggregation of wealth and professional
prominence in courtroom. The IL de-
PENDANTS represent around a billion of
dollars.
Their counsel. an army almost big
enough to make a showing in the Bal
kans, occupied two large tables De-
1endants, lawyers ana reporters TOOK up
all the space within the rail, and all the
rest of the room was filled with tales
men. There was not a seat for an idle
spectator at the morning session.
When Judge Hunt mounted the bench
and called for all talesmen with legal ex-
cuses there was a mad scramble and
about 30 prospective jurors began to make
excuses. Few of them were successful.
Rockefeller was the only one of the de-
PENDANTS who displayed any interest in
the humdrum proceedings. He sat along
side his counsel and closely scrutinized
each talesman. The other defendants sat
by themselves around long table, and
one might have imagined them at a di-
rectors' meeting. They ioked and laughed
among themselves, read newspapers COW
ertly when Judge Hunt was not looking.
made figures on blocks of papers and
read piles of letters.