The copper era and Morenci leader., 1918-05-17
POWERS SESSION BOYS CONVICTED IN
 FIRST BALLOT FIRST DEGREE MURDER

sheriff of Graham county, and his two deputies Kane Wootan and M. R. Kempton paid with their lives the price of duty.
 The second act of this tragedy was the flight and pursuit of the princi- pals after they had defied the author ized agents of the law, when whole state rose in arms and sought to avenge the death of men who had sworn to execute the law of the land. The role played by the actors in the second act Is still fresh in the mem- ory of all Copper Era readers, and the curtain will now be raised on what is perhaps the last and third act of the tragedy.
 Having been previously arraigned the defendants were brought into court last Monday on converting of the May term of the Superior court of Greenlee county. The three sat with their attorney, Hon. James Fielder of Deming, N. M., who con ducted their case.
 As these cases were brought here on change of venue from Graham county, the burden of their prosecu- ton was shifted from the district at torney of Greenlee county to that of the Graham county district attorney, and for this reason Attorney David Ling took no part in the prosecution. District Attorney W. R. Chambers, of Graham county, arrived Sunday even ing to take charge of the States in- terest in the trial. Accompanying him was Hon. Norman J. Johnson of Globe, who with Hon. A. R. Lynch of Clifton. assisted MT. Chambers in con ducting the prosecution. It was rumored that Attorney General Wiley E. Jones would also be here and compose a part of the legal battery arrayed against the defendants. but as there were plenty of talent on the side of the prosecution his services were declined by MT. Chambers.
 Jury Selected Monday.
 The selection of the jury began i'm mediately after court convened Mon day morning, and the panel had been sworn to truly answer such ques- tions propounded touching their ouali- fications as jurors" Contrary to ex- pectations this consumed but little. time, comparatively. As much had been said and published ; regarding this tragedy, the flight and pursuit of the fugitives, it was thought that it would be difficult to secure a jury, as the impression prevailed that opin- ions had been fixed in the minds of the public to such an extent that verdicts were already rendered. The jury was selected from a panel of thirty-two, and there seemed no dis position to evade service by any ques toned. Only one man examined tes- tified that his opinion was so fixed that it would be difficult matter to render fair and impartial verdict Though all stated that they had read accounts of the tragedy, but few had fixed opinions as to the guilt or in- nocence of the accused.
 The last man had been questioned at 4:10 in the afternoon of the first day of court. and the first twelve names read by the clerk composed the jury selected to render the verdict as to the guilt or innocence of the de- fendants, who were charged with the murder of the Graham county off cers, but who were being triad only for the murder of the late Sheriff Mcbride, on the morning of the 10th day of February, 1918:
 E. A. Wood, painter, Clifton; Sam Sloan, cattle man, Apache Creek; c. A. Lennox, miner, Metcalf; George R. Riddle, assayer, Morenci; J. E. Dart, Metcalf; J. V. Lippets, carpenter, Mo- renci; Dan Grant, miner, Morenci; c. M. Staples, accountant, Morenci; i; s. F. Spriggs, purchasing agent Shan non Copper company, Clifton; e. M :. Bishop, squad foreman, Clifton; J. H. Goolsby, shelter superintendent, Cliff ton; T. N. Brown, farmer, Duncan.
 After the jury had been chosen which was sworn, court adjourned un- til g o'clock Tuesday morning. All other jurors were excused until one o'clock Thursday.
 Testimony Began Tuesday.
 When court convened Tuesday morning the court room was comfort ably filled, but not crowded. The ladies manifested an interest in the proceedings from the start, which increased as the trial progressed, un- til they composed the larger portion of the spectators. Later they came with their knitting, and remained throughout the half day sessions.
 The jury being sworn District At torney Chambers opened the proceed ings by reading the complaint to the jury in which the defendantsJohn and Tom Powers and Tom Sisson were jointly charged with the murder of Frank Mcbride. After reading the complaint a brief statement of the case was made to the jury on which the state rested it's case.
 Frank Haynes was the first witness placed on the stand and stated his res idence was at Globe, and his occupa- tion deputy Uinted States Marshal The examination of the witness for the state was conducted by Mr. Norm an Johnson. MT. Haynes described the trip from Stafford to the Guiluro mountains in quest of the men for whom the posse held warrants They went to other localities before finally locating their men in the cabin near the Powers mines in this district.
 The first objection from the defense