New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1917-11-22
FIRST PANEL USED
In MURDER CASE
Little Jack Visits Mrs. DeSaulleS
in Prison, and Is Loath to Leave

murder OF her divorced husband
John Longer De Saulles. was inter-
rupted Yesterday at o'clock in the
courtroom of Justice Manning at
Mineola, when. with only ten jurors
seated in the jury box, the panel OF
$50 veniremen was exhausted.
The trial was postponed until
Thursday to allow time to bring In
fifty more residents of Nassau County.
The two jurors selected yesterday
were the only ones acceptable to both
sides out of total of fortyf1ve Ven-
iremen examined On two occasions
six successive veniremen stated that
they had formed strong opinions on
the case from reading the newspapers,
and that they could not be fair jurors.
BY asking if the state would have to
produce testimony to overcome that
IMPRESSION District Attorney Weeks
admitted that he always assumed
that these opinion were favorable to
Mrs. De Saulles.
This exhibition of local public senti-
ment on the case all tok place in the
presence Of the accepted jurors, who
numbered eight at the beginning of
the day and ten at the end. Some Of
the Jurors commented among them
selves as venireman after venireman
declared that he had strong senti-
ments regarding the case and that it
would require very strong evidence
to change his mind. The jurymen
apparently not pleased by the time
required to complete their number,
frightened up very much when an
occasional, isolated venireman would
say that he had not made up his
mind about the guilt or Innocence of
the defendant. The jurors looked
very much dispirited when man of
professed neutrality was sent away
by a peremptory challenge.
Several of the Veniremen admitted
that though they knew they were on
the list of those who might try the
case, they had been reading and dis
cussing the case right up to the
moment when they were called. JUS
tice Manning and District Attorney
Weeks both cast expressive glance>
at those who made such admissions,
but made no comment.
District ATTORNEY Weeks asked each
prospective juryman what papers he
read, and counsel for the defense
usually repeated the question later, in
order to establish definitely the sources
of the venireman's information about
the case. Mr.. Weeks asked each one
particularly If he had read certain
accounts by specia women writer's, In
which the beauty and forlornness of
the defendant were pictured some
what wildly. None of the jurors ad-
mitted persuing any of tho impress
sionistic views of the case, but most
of them said they had studied the
accompanying photographs and
sketches.
After a, long series Of veniremen
had protested to have formed opinions
from reading the newspa perS, Justice
Manning interested himself and be-
gan to interrogate William Fl. Sea-
too biased to serve.
Now do you really mean that?"
asked Justice Manning.
YES said Seaman, II think I do"
Are you accustomed to forming
your opinions by what you read in the
newspapers"
'No.">
well then, why is 1t so in this
case? The newspapers have only
been printing news, haven't they?
No newspaper that you have read has
expressed an opinion as to the guilt
or innocence of this defendant has it,"
mo"
'"rhey have been printing infor1na-
ton for the public. That is what
are for. They haven't
been suggesting what opinion you
should form. Now are you sure that
you have formed an opinion from
what you have read?"
well. I've got an opinion anyhow"
"A1 right, then, you're excused"
Several men were excused because |
they had conscientious scruples |
inc fol }rIo~
it ought to. apply only to a certain |
group of criminals. William S.
Flouress of Hampstead, a retired bak-
err. who reads German newspapers
and one English evening newspaper
said he had his own ideas about cap
ital punishment.
when do you think it ought to be
applied?" said District Attorney
Weeks.
well, for instance, II robbery Is
Included with murder favor It, If
a man breaks into a house to steal
and then kills a man, I would send
him to the electric chair"
"You would enforce the law only
where murder accompanied bur-
g]ary?"
well. in some other cases, too"
But not in this case?"
mo, not in this case"
James A. Sutphin of Freeport was
also against capital punishment, ex-
cept in certain murder cases. Asked
when he would apply it. he said:
"Only in cases where a person with
q bad character who has shown GRIM
lnality in the past is on trial"
Other men were excused because
they were either close personal friends
of one or another of the lawyers or
had once been a client of one of the
lawyers.
The questioning showed that both
the defense and prosecution had made
~ i,oy1<e inc,lfriaa into tho o,d +bo