The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-05-24

lie was but vaguely acquainted with. the case, and claimed to have read no glances in the The Times at current headlines. He bore no conscientious scruples against capital punishment, he said, and the fact that a woman was the defendant would make no diff ference to him, even if he were to de- eide her guilty of first degree murder.
 Fleming was selected at 12:55 o'clock, and was the last candidate to be examined before the court adjourn ed for the noon recess at one o'clock.
 At 10:06 o'clock. this morning, standard time, States Attorney Hom- CT $. Cummings announced that the state was ready to proceed with it's Case. Sheriff Simon Pease inmedi- ateiy produced the prisoner and the murder trial, that promises to make history in Fairfield county court rec ords, had commenced in earnest.
 Mrs. Mott walked unsteadily, be- ing assisted and attended by Miss Julia Moran of the Catholic Charity bureau. The accused woman was ashen in color, and if in repose might easily be taken for one dead. She shook violently when seated, causing the large meshed black veil to fIutter continuously. She was clothed en- tirely in black, wearing a tiny black hat.
 Immediately behind her sat her aged mother, and her two pretty chiI- dren, Mildred and George J. They were accompanied by Mrs. J. w. Bierho oLql. Mrs. Mott, upon enter ing the court room was greeted by her attorneys, the public defender, Robert DetF,orest and Henry F. Shan non. They pressed her hands and htelped her to her chair between them, and the long task of selecting a jury was begun.
 When Judge William M. Maltbie opened court at 9:46, Standard time, the men summoned for jury duty oc- cupied the entire seating capacity of the Superior criminal court room The first remarks made by the judge were aimed at the score of Bridge port, Boston and New York newspa- permen. He made it clear that only facts should be reported, and that news stories originating other than from the court room must not be such as to in any way tend towards not giving the accused woman the fairest trial in the world. Judge Maltbie told the reporters that he was always willing to assist them when he could. if they were in doubt as to material but that any one caught taking or attempting to take pictures in the court room would be jailed.
 The judge next addressed his re- remarks to the men assembled for jury duty. and before having them re- tire for individual examination, point ed out their duty citizens, told them that it was necessary to have a jury, a jury of representative citizens and
  over two weeks For this reason the Judge stated that every excuse offered would have to be a legitimate one, and he made an appeal to the men to be willing to serve if serving was within the realm of possibility.
 When the roll call of jurors was called 99 answered, and all but a very few of the additional 26 served with warrants were accounted for. | The first man questioned was Frank |
 
 BrookheId, who startled the court by 1 saying that he had read nothing in the | papers about the case, for he only | glanced occasionally at headlines. He | believed in capital punishment. is married, has two children, but was | not acceptable to the defense Rob- l ert DeForest conducted the defense | during the selecting of the jury today. |
 The second man called, William r. l Sim ons, of New Canaan, 1T, and l town warden, was also excused. not i being desirable to the defense be- | cause he had formed an opinion. He | was married and has q child, and is 1 acquainted with the states | attorney.
 The third man. Thomas J. Kilt. of | Greenwich, has been on murder trial jurieSs before. He is 59. a carpenter, l and has four children Like ! the two nlen before him he had no objection To capital punishment, and | stated that fe beXeyeI g. woman | should pay the death penalty if found !! guilty. A uliyeT passed over Mrs. i Nott's form The man was excused 1 the defense using up it's third chaI- ! 1enze.
 Other men called who were excused i included. George L. SccIeld. Dan 1 bury; James Blakeiy. John C. Wade. [ who has q daughter at the point Of i death; George E.. Gregory. State rep John z. MeiIen: George | B. Curtis Willis Ii. Monroe: De.r.,y 1