New-York tribune., 1918-06-13
All of Them Are Still Sub
ject to Peremptory
Challenge
Prisoners Wife Present
Federal Officials Predict Sen,
sational Developments at
an Early Stage

JoHH y. " lIeAIy, DTOtneI VI IHc
fugitive Sim Fein agitator, Jeremiah
OLeary, was placed on trial in the
Federal District Court yesterday be-
fore Judge Augustus N. Hand on a
charge of obstructing justice by aid
ing his brother to escape while he was
under Indictment for violation of the
espionage act.
Assistant United States Attorney
Earl Barnes, who has charge of the
prosecution, was assisted by Assistant
Federal Attorneys V. II. Rothwell and
Gambler Cobb, from Boston. Colonel
Thomas B. Fielder appeared for O'Leary.
The entiye day was taken up in the
examination of talesmen. When court
was adjourned nine of the twelve men
in the box had been interrogated and
six tentatively accepted, but these are
subject to peremptory challenge. Three
of the men were excused, two Tor
cause and one by consent of counsel.
Mrs. O'Leary sat next to her nus.
band at the counsel table and talked
to him in whispers rs the examination
Of the tentative jurors. progressed.
His mother and younger brother were
among the interested spectators.
Indicated Governments Policy
When Alexis B. Blanchard, an in
surance solicitor of 108 Broadway, was
called for examination as the first
talcsman Mr.. Barnes indicated by his
questions the policy the government
would follow at the trial.
Mr.. Barnes asked Mr.. Blanchard If
he was reader of "Bull," the publi-
cation edited by jeremiah OLeary,
which was barred from the mails for
it's anti British sentiments and num-
her Of severe attacks on this govern
ment. He answered that he had never
read the paper.
Mr.. Barnes then questioned the juror
about any acquaintance he might have
with members of the defendants fam
lily or with sympathizers of the Slnn
Fen in America. The talesman denied
stated that he did not know Supreme
Court Justice Daniel F. Cohalan at all,
and that he did not know that O'Leary
was a member of the Church of St.
Francis De Sales, which Mr.. Blanchard
attends.
The juror said, in answer to ques-
tons, that he was not member Of the
Sim Fein, the Friends of Irish Free
dom, the Ancient Order of Hibernians
or any other Irish society. After he
had answered that he had not opposed
the operation of the selective service
act and was in favor Of vigorous
prosecution of the war by the United
States, he was tentatively accepted as
juror No. /.
Two More Jurors in Box
Isaac Anderson, of AGO West 147th
Street, The Bronx, was the next tales
man accepted tentatively, and Joseph
Jordan, of 256 Broadway, was the third.
nd linn a For tn
cran of the Civil War, who has a son
fighting with the "Old 69th" in France,
was the next talesman examined. Be-
cause of his difficulty in hearing, Mr..
Barnes wished that he be excused. Af-
ter subjecting him to some tests, Judge
Hand decided that Mr.. Minor could
hear we'll enough. The talesman, who
comes from Virginia, caused some
amusement when he was asked how he
would deal with the defendant if the
evidence did not show him guilty be-
yond reasonable doubt. He said:
"Well, I'd deal with him just like I
ginia. All the rest of the jury thought
he was guilty, and said so. l thought
he was guilty, myself, but the evidence
wasn't enough for me, SO | refused to
convict him. He was accused Of steal
ing some bacon"
Jefferson Blumenthal, of 557 West
141st Street, who is of draft age, and
James Austrian, cotton fabric dealer,
of 40 St. Nicholas Terrace, who has
two sons in the army and another who
has just reached draft age, also quail
! fed.
1t is expected that the box will be
filled to-day. Federal officials EXPECT
sensational developments at an early
stage in the trial. The defence has
ten challenges to make before it is
forced to accept the jury, and the
must make four challenges before the
government makes any