New-York tribune., 1919-06-24
Slayer of Brooklyn Bank
Employed Can't Understand
All This Fuss, Since He
Admits That He Is Guilty
Prosecution Opens To-day
Mysterious W oman in Mourn.
ing May Give Clew tadden-
tity of the Man on Trial

orockiyns curing the Setect1on OF
jury to try him for the murder Of De-
Witt c. Peal, assistant cashier of the
East Brooklyn Savings Bank. Peal and
Henry Coons were shot to death on
December IS last by two men who
escaped with $4,000 of the banks
funds. One Of these was Handy.
Although the proceedings were SO
brisk that the jury box was filled by
o'clock, Handy was plainly bored
Even the presence of thirty plain
clothes policemen scattered among the
spectators and two uniformed guards
patroling in front of the open court
room windows failed to elicit more
than listless attention from the
prisoner.
"That was monotonous," he said al
the close Of the proceedings, as he
stood in the little concrete and iron
barred room in the basement Of the
courthouse.
His eyes lighted with interest for
the frst time as he spoke. He seemed
eager to express his opinion of the
trial.
"Why All This Trouble?
THE whole thing seems so unneces-
sary to me- he continued. II ap-
preciate the fight my attorney is max
ing to get decent jury and all that,
but ! have already committed suicide,
SO whv all this trouble? / know the
trial is just another step to the cleo
trio chair, but don't care much for it.
1t seems such a waste of time"
His face, which had been almost
paliid in the courtroom, flushed as he
told of his preference for death to a
life in prison.
"Was it Horace Greeley or Patrick
Henry who said, Give me liberty or
give me death?' Whoever it was"
Handy declared, che certainly had the
right idea 1t takes q long time to
plan an escape. Probably l would be
in prison for two or three years be-
fore an opportunity presented itself.
Even if did get out I would be
stamped with the mark of the prison.
| don't want that. Death is far bet
ter. You know I told them about the
Brooklyn job out there and came here
without fight"
No Feeling of sRemorse
The murder for which he is being
tried does not arouse feeling of re-
morse. he said. The odds against him
self and his accomplice in the bank
robbery were about forty to two, he
Should know resistance meant death
Out West he said. "bank employees
know better. When they are told to
do. thing by robbers armed with re-
volvers they do it. We didn't come
in to kill, and we didn't expect to be
forced to. l certainly regret killing
DAVIS, because he was my friend and
ne wasn't. armed-but the others died
because they took their chances"
Two deputy sheriffs came to lead
to the Raymond Street Jail. They
fastened themselves to the prisoner
by handouts, one on each wrist.
Stage stuff, isn't it," said Handy
with a smile.
The large number Of talesmen cha.-
lenged by Francis K. McCaffrey, the
attorney for the defence, on admitting
that they had formed opinions failed
to depress Handy or shake him from
his half smiling imperturbability
When three or four men would be ex-
cused in succession he would glance at
the courtroom clock.
Fish Dealer Is Foreman
Henry T. Mower, a fish dealer Of Is
Linden. Avenue, was selected as fore
man OF the jury after nine veniremer
had been excused. Three admitted
that they would be unable to Law aside
previously formed convictions and
were challenged for cause. One man
was rejected by the prosecution be-
cause he said he Thought the stories
OF the defendant bit too wild and
would base his verdict on the prison
er's conduct in court" Louis G. Hess aIo
OF 2S0 Gem Street, was challenged bv
the District Attorney when he asserted
that he didn't believe Hamby's storv
at all, because he sounds like NOV,
ing picture desperado"
Inlrty-two talesmen were examined
before the jury was completed. The
defence exercised the right of peremn-
toly cnaiienge four times and the
prosecution twice. District Attorney
Names of the Jurors
The eleven jurors selected after
iheodore G. Hildebrand. a clerk With
p, tne new York Telephone Company. I5So
Imam J,snam Avenue; we George Hiscox. a
GorJnn 100 ot: johns Place; Charles
pprer, l452 East Twelfth Street. Tsna. no.,
Ionwell, painter and decorator 7Ss
Lexington Avenue; Daniels Coaa;."
pam and yarnish dealer, ooss arltnSn'
Avenue; John f. Murray, construct;or t;o,,
foreman, 90 Pilling Street: John ''J,' p
mmcureevy' painter, 122 Third Place
Horace G. reele, typewriter saIe.msn' ns.
oo6 Sixth Street; Augustus p. HnW'
man, adding machine salesman. 21no
Cropsey Avenue; Charles ]. rrw;n
salesman. 1925 East Eighth Streat.
Maekey K. Goodman, fur manufactmrn.'
4s2 Fifteenth Street
namby expressed himself az satisfea
WIN the jury as selected, but said ho
would have preferred men just a bit
younger He said he probably wonld
pe better understood by more youthful
Wants Different Name
Mr.. McCaffry made a yon,;,n tie. a.
name OF the defendant be changed on
tne record to Jay Boyd Allen. District
n.toiney Lewis objected on the ground
.nat tue de1endant was known by this
name as we'll as two others. His OBJ
legion was sustained by Justice Faw-
es.s. hamoy said during the noon re-
ssss tnas ne had requested this change.
zeal name than Handy. He steadfs .sio aIo
11uscd 70 DISCLOSE his real identity.
elsw 70 his identity would be obtained
vHsn young woman. dressed in
mourning. took her place among the
spectstors. Her remarkable fasial re-
ssmblance 70 the prisoner wax obscrved
~ many. She would not auswtr nues.
lions. She remained until the jnry hsd
been xHieet>d sNAS """