Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1918-04-07
Judge Lands Discharges En-
tire Venire Called Because
of Campaign by Friends Of
Men on Trial,
SYSTEMATIC EFFORT
MADE BY ANARCHISTS.
Prosecuting Attorney and
Lawyer for Defense Have
Acrimonious Discussion,
Nearly Come to Blows,

Chicago, April 6.-Federal Judge.
Landis tonight dismissed the entire.
venre in the trial of 1l2 Industrial
Workers of the World, charged with
violating the espionage act after a
number of prospective jurors had tcs-
,ified that they had been approached.
by agents of the organization relative
to their views ON socialism ana the III
W. W.
The trial was postponed until al
week from next Monday and another
party of 100 veniremen called for
that time.
The climax of a week Of legal de-
late over the selection of jurors came
when George f. Vandeveer, counsel
for the defense, suddenly arose and
asked that tho first four jurors ac-
ceptcd by both sides be sworn ia.
.t5kA General Dismissal
Charles f. Clyne, district attorney
who had some time previously asked
that the jurors be sworn, Immediate
ly asked the court to dismiss the
twelve men in the box and the one
hundred awaiting examination.
-Four of these Jurors have testi-.I
fled that they were approached dill
rectly or indirectly, and asked
whether they sympathized with theI
socialist party or the /. w. w. just
before election last week" Mr.. Clyne
said 7 now ask an adjournment until
Monday so that the government mayI
conduct an, investigation. We will
show that every venireman sum
moned was approached Immediately
after the names We're drawn from the
box"
Mr, Nanderveer made a statement
to the court in which he admitted |
that the organization had made AMI
attempt to ascertain the views Of We
nircmen but denied that there was
any intention of influencing their
views,
SYSTEMATIC Campaign Launched.
I'VE were in trouble and we turned |
to our nearest friends, the socialists"
he said. I'VE prepared maps and
divided the district into sections and /
it was no secret that several hundred
workers looked up the records of the
venremen.
"If some of these foolish friends
became too active it was not at our
direction. | take exception to Mr..
Clyne's statements that We were vio-
atng the law, and attempting to cor
rupt jurors
Instead of adiurning court Judge |
Lands ordered the twelve men in the |
box locked up and, drawing venire
men from the group who had not been
examined questioned them as to
they had been approached by
agents of the |. W. w. Seven out of |
eIcven testified that they had.
Judge lands Severe.
This does not appear to be other !
han a systematic campaign and I
lon't like it," Judge lands declared. |
81 don't want a jury of this kind. III
S perfectly proper for the litigant to
make an investigation of the jurors
but this is beyond the limit. For an |
agent of the defendant to approach !
The juror, directly or indirectly is the |
same as the defendant himself trying !
to influence the juror. In view of the
evidence / must dismiss the entire /
Danel."
A groan came from the prisoners, |
who have shown unrest over the long |
ut is merely a trick by this prose-
aution,' declared Mr.. Vandeveer |
"Clyne has used three of his six per- |
emptory challenges while We still |
have eight. He has been offensive !
throughout the proceedings and / ask |
the court to review the record.
Lawyers Quarrel.
'If | had gone so far outside the /
law as Mr.. Vandeveer has in per-
hitting tampering with jurors,
would resign from the bar Mr. Clyne !
said. Wives of veniremen have even
been approached by these agents and
some became so frightened they ask
ed for protection, declaring they fear
ed they were being taken for spies
: Later Mr.. Vanderveer and Mr.. |
Clyne nearly came to blows.
You can get as nasty as you like
with me outside the court room,
yandeveer said.
II will meet you any time and any |