New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-06
History Queries
By Bouck White
Stump Talesmen
One Man Barred Because
He Never Heard of
John Brown
Prosecutor Is Exacting
Accepts Only Those Who
Have Read Declaration and
the Constitution

-Four more men yesterday passed The
examination for jury service in The
trial OF Bouck White. pastor Of the
Church OF the Interna-ionalistS," and
his ten pensioners. charged with
burning the American flag N melt
ing pot" Of national embiems, including
the German flag This makes eight
Jurors in all that have been accepted.
The trial IS before Judge Mcintyre N
General Sessions.
Conducting most OF the exam nations
himself. Bouck White tested the tales
men in history, political science. PHI
losophy and sociology, and Bouck y mite
did the marking. passing and rejecting
Before being tired. the pastor rs taxing
q fling at trying others. and ne seemed
20 enjoy II. Some Of his hypothetical
questions addressed 20 the talesmen,
delivered In the manner OF the practised
orator. were so long and covered such
vide range that the victims IN the OoX
blinked and puckered their bro~s. not
knowing what on earth the clergyman
was talking about
4Do YOU know the difference between
a criminal and political offender" ne
asked one victim.
Man Confesses Ignorance
No. the man on trial before Pastor
White did not know.
DO YOU realize that the criminal o.
fender may be a moral defective and be
low the average, while the political Of
fender is above the average, and may
be an ideaist? Do you understand
that the state Is interested IN keeping
a certain level Of morality wherein ITS
principles rest. and IL interested IN
maintaining that average FOR its citi-
zens? ,"
Mr.. White had pulled the talesman
way beyond the latter's depth. The
man was lost.
"Did you ever hear Of John Brown, Of
OsawatomIe
NO said the talesnsn, shaking his
head
cor William Lloyd Garrison or Rog
The man had not heard Of thest
worthless % American history, where
upon White explained 70 the court that
he really did not think the candidate
vas able 20 cope with the question OF
iudging him and his colleagues. and dis
criminal between the mere act OF
burning the flag and the motive under
living the act. He said that idealists
frequently ran counter 10 the law be-
cause o. superior intelligence, and be.
cause Of the fact that the statutes mad
not caught I'd with the views Of the
advanced in thought.
Prosecutor L. Aroused
These and similar assertions rolled
. = ~
stood I'D and made the initial Dlunder
OF starting 20 talk before Mr.. White
was finished II was wasted effort
When the minister had done Mr.. Rorke
explained 70 the court that any Of
fender might .nterpose the plea that
he was an idealist 20 condone his
crime
81 object 20 the talesman because he
is not sufficiently verscd in American
history or well enough acquainted with
American institutions 70 act as juror
IN this case" said Mr.. White. i
would ike 20 establish the precedent
in this case that a talesman may be
challenged on other grounds than
prejudice. This case Is not one Of or
di1arv procedure. The judgment n
this case will contribute 20 the forma-
ton OF American precedents here IN
New York City, the capital OF civiliza-
ton
Whites Motives Impugned
"Mr White Is trying 20 manufacture
this case into a colossal historical az
fair merely 20 advertise himself and
MS books said Mr.. Rorke.
Judge Mcintyre ruled that the tales
man was of sufficient intelligence 20
sit as a Juror. but he was rejected by
the defence.
The men accepted we're DAVID L.
Keller. insurance agent. OF 239 East
Forty-eighth Street; Zenas Matteos-
sean. an Armenian. and an architect, OF
13 East Thirty-ffth Street; Jerome Ia
Tour. advertising man, SOC West llith
Street, and George Gattel, silk mer-
chant. living a. the Sherman Square
Hotel. All OF these had read the Dec
laration OF independence and the Con-
stitution. thus meeting the require
ments Of Mr.. Rorke. They had al read
about Roger Williams. William LLOYD
Garrison and John Brown, satisfying
Mr. White.
Mr.. La Tour said he had read all Of
the Constitution OF the United states
one day when he was stalled IN Phlla-
delphia and had nothing else 20 DO.