Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1918-02-28
VENUE CHANGE
MOTION FILED
Eichorn's Attorney Wants Case
Taken to Another County
for Trial.
CONTINUANCE MAY Be ASKED
Understood That Such Motion May BE
Filed Because OF Illness Of
Witness. - .

A motion for a change OF venue IN
the Albert Eichorn murder case was
flied this afternoon in circuit court oy
Charles II. Goggin, attorney for the
defense, and 1T is understood that IN
all probability the defense will ask for
a continuance of the case before Mon
day, because of the illness OF WIT
ness. The motion will be answered
Monday.
In an interview last evening Charles
Goggin gave out the basis OF the mo-
ton for the change of venue. de said
the basis for the motion was because
of certain rumors, newspaper articles
and reported interviews in regard to
the case, which were prejudicial to
Mr.. Eichorn, strong public senti-
ment having been nodded against him,
and that he cannot have fair trial in
a commusity where public sentiment
such as this has been nodded and ex-
lists.
He made it plain that the defense
did not want to criticize any officer or
newspaper unjustly, saying that he be-
lbeved that they had acted in good
faith. He said that the officers in
their zeal, had given interviews and
statemests have been made, which are
without foundation in fact, and which
did their part in molding such opin-
ion and sentiment.
Regarding the newspapers Mr..
Goggin said that certain newspaper
articles have been published which
quoted the interviews and published
other articles in regard to the case,
many of which were incorrect state
ments Of fact and had their part in
the molding of such sentiment.
He stated that there has been a
large amount of money expended by
the county in the preparation Of the
cases and necessarily will have to be
a large amount expended in the trial
and that the defense believes that
with the local prejudice which exists
il will be impossible to secure a jury
which can qualify under the law and
will necessitate, if tried in this county,
the calling of hundreds of jurors at
s4.O0 per day with the legal mileage,
where if the case was to be tried in
some other county it would be quite
probable that jury could be secured
within the regular panel of jurors
called in that county.
In calling attention to the fact the
defense points to the so-called Quimby
trials which took place some several
years ago in this county. In that case
it was said that hundreds of jurors
were drawn at a tremendous expense
to the county of Gratiot, where. if a
motion of a change Of venue had been
made and granted, jury might have
been secured within the regular panel
of the adjoining county where tried,
and saved the county hundreds Of
dollars of expense.
The defense pointed out that this
only presented the county's side of il
as the defendant in the case would be
put to great expense which a
change of venue would avoid.
1t was given out that the motion
contained affidavts Of several citizens
located in various localities over the
county, which strongly evidenced the
fact that the newspaper articles anc
reported interviews given out have
had a strong tendency in molding d
strong public sentiment against Mr.
Eichorn.
In closing the interview Mr.. Goggir
said that the motion was noticed fol
a hearing at the opening of circuit
court Monday morning.
Just what steps the prosecution is
taking in the matter, in regard to tn,
motion is not known, as it was flee
late this afternoon. 1t is very certain
from remarks dropped in the past
that the prosecution will make every
effort TO keep the case in the county
for trial, which means that the pros
ccution believes that a fair trial car
be secured in Gratiot county.