The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-10-04
BY BoB HILDERRAND.

-
BY BoB HlLDEBRAND.
The mother Of Allen Mcnamara broke
under the terrific strain as the twelfth
and last member Of the jury which will
pass upon her sons life, took his seat
in the jury box at 1l:29 o'clock Satur-
day morning. Her arms clasped about
| the neck of her boy, she sohbed for
a space of several minutes, while Ralph
Davis, his attorney, voiced objection az
/ ter objection to the acceptance OF the
/ twelfth man.
The last juror in the Mcnamara case
Ills II, o. Scott, 1lT6 Forest avenue, a
clerk at the Shelby County Cotton OIL
mill. He was seated only after the
hardest kind Of a fight on the part Of
Ralph Davis, and after he had been
challegende for cause, and then per-
emptorily.
Taking OF testimony in the McNa-
mara case will not start until Nom
day morning at $3.50 o'clock. This re-
Mr. Davis and Sam o. Bates. states
attorney. The reason, as assigned by
Mr. Bates, Is that the attorneys for
both sides have been under n terrific
strain, owing to the extended difficulty
q obtaining p jury to try Mcnamara.
Sixteen Days for Jury.
che McNsmara case opened on FRI
dag, Sept 1a dBys ago So wide-
aptaad was the publicity gwen the case
bcfore II came to trial. that yenireman
after venirenian was disqualified. The
regular panel Of jurors was exhausted
rapidly. Special venires, calling for
more than 1000 men, were summoned
up to Saturday. when the jury box
finally was filled.
Not only lawyers in the case, but
Judge j. Ed Richards of the First di-
vision of the criminal court, attaches
Of his mouft and newspaper men, have
become exhausted at the monotony of
the continued repeating of tho Same
questions to man after man who dis
qualified.
Peremptcry challenges for the de-
Tense, which numbered Is, were ex-
hausted several days ago. The state
had three peremptory challenges left
Allen McNamara's mother has been
in the courtroom every day since the
trial began. For a. greater portion of
that time she sat alongside her son,
with her right arm about his neck, as
If to protect him from the merciess
forward march OF the trial. Day by day
the strain she has been under has
not there previous to Aug. 20, which is
the date her son was arrested and
Jailed on a charge OF criminal assault
\ on a 17-year-old girl. The penalty for
/ this crime II Mcnamara 10 found guilty
/ as charged, is the electric chair. True
\ other penalties--life Imprisonment, at
Il tempted criminal assault and even as
| OF the jury, But the horror of the
/ death dealing chair in the state peni-
L tertiary at Nashville has been evident
i in the mothers face since the first day
she appeared alongside her 23-year -old
son In the courtroom.
/ Wife's Odd Role.
Allen MeNamara's wife. who filed
suit for divorce from him, several day
before the alleged assault took place
also has been with him daily So hal
MS little; Golden nS curly haired baby An
mara's wife has stated that she woult
not so back to live with him, ever
though he should be acquitted Of tn,
terrible crime with which he is charged
Consequently, the strain on her has no
been so evident as 1t has been on tn,
mother. Yet, when Mrs. McNamara
hrokenly Saturday morning, the younge
Mrs. Mcnamara. seated on the othe
side Of Allen, leaned over her husband
shoulder and bestowed comforting pat
on the quivering back Of her mother
in-law.
Mcnamara. John Frey and Fulle
Lpngley stand under indictment OF
charges of criminal assault on tfre
young girls, aged IS. II and IS. The as
saults took place on the night of Aug
90. at the Wolf river bridge and New
Raleigh road. Mcnamara and Ere,
were captured on the scene of the Grim
by Sheriff O., H; Perry, but the pal
battled the sheriff and Frey escaped
Longley fled while the battle was goin,
Frey was recaptured at his home Of
Alabama avenue, the following morn
ing.
. Davis Opposed Scott.
Scott, the juror accepted Saturda,
morning, was the seventeenth venire
man examined Saturday morning. Tim
for the noon adjournment was fast an
preaching. and only Is more Veniremel
remained Of the special pane
which reported Saturday when Scot
took the stand. After brief but thor
opgh examination, Scott was passed b
the states attorney.
Mr. Davis grilled the venireman thor
0ughly, but Scott stood up well unde
the barrage Of questioning until tn
opinion stage was reached. This is tn
i point where Mr.. Davis has trapped $
many venjremen and disqualified their
Scott faltered once or twice at thi
point, but the states objections hrough
rulings from Judge Richards tina
caused Davis to cease questioning owe
and over the same line. Objection afte
objection was noted by the attorney TO
the defense. only to he overruled. The
exceptions were noted to the rulings.
Finally came time when Mr.. Davi
had no further out. under. the court
ruling. So he challenged for caus
and was ovefruled. He excepted an
challenged peremptorily, though tn
Judge ruled some days ago that hi
peremptory challenges were exhauste,
With. The fifteenth.
Scott took his seat in the box
~. M -. E.. VHRa ,,.~~