The Washington times., 1921-02-06
.SPEEDSCHO|CE
0FM|NCO JURY
Judge Modiiiss Ruling on Re-
Iatlonshlp and Panel Is Ex-
peoted to Be Filled Soon.

WILLIAMSON. w. Va, Feb. g.
Hope was entertained here today for
the speedy selection Of n jury in the
trial Of Sid Hatfield and twenty
Others for the slsying Of seven Bald
win-Felts detectives with the ruling
Of Judge ID. r. Bailey that remote
relationship does not disquslify
talesmen from jury service.
SCORES ExCUsED.
Scores OF veniremen have been ex-
cuAed on the grounds OF relationship
tn some one OF the defendants
In some cases the relationship
harked so far back that IL was only
q vague memory. Under Bailey's rul-
ing against relatives sitting on the
jury they were dismissed.
But with the selection of a Jury on
this tenth day stiil apparently In the
far distance. Bailey modined his rul-
ing. making 1t applicable only to near
relatives
NIT the judge. attorneys and others
to spend the weekend with their
families In other parts of the State.
NOw nOA.
Eighteen tentative Jurors are now
In the box and two more are to be Sc
lected before both sides begin exer-
cising their peremptory challenges.
Twenty-nin veniremen were ex-
amined at today's two-hour session.
but not one qualified. Nearly all
ishment.
1t was pointed out today that
should a demand for negro venire-
men be made. Judge Bailey would
be legally bound to grant II, as the
law distinctly forbids the exclusion
OF colored men from the jury lists.
1t is not expected, however. that
the. law will be brought into play.
as many maneuvers are possible on
the part of those in charge of tho
case to prevent such a contingency.
|, One contingent of veniremen rode
into Williamson yesterday on q
freight train. They were arrested
for trespassing.
II the case Is continued after fur
ther futile attempts to complete q
jury, II probably will not be re-
sumed until the legislature has an
opportunity to pass upon the law
fathered by Judge Joseph Saunders
men from another county when tho
resources of the home county have
teen exhausted. There Is some talk
In favor of a legislative amendment
repeating the statute which makes
1t impossible for men to serve on a
Jury II they have served on q petit
Jury within two years.
TOM FELTS PROMINENT.
Tom Felts. manager of the Bald
win Felts Detective Agency. known
In these parts as "the man-hunter
extraordinary" suave gracious
hammered man, and next to John j..
Coniff, chief counsel for tho defense,
the most impressive and distinguished
looking man connected with the case.
Is on the spot, surrounded by a large
number of trusted operatives He is
supposed to be paying part Of the
large force OF lawyers assisting
Prosecuting Attorney Bronson, and he
wants blood for the blood Of his
brothers.
Melodrama in life is had when he
appears in court Sid Hatfield oc-
cupies his consciousness. and he oc-
cupies that Of HATFIELD. After he had
directed attention OF the court to Hat
fields possession of guns in court. and
thereby led not merely to disarming
the mountain fighter, bat to the frisk-
ing Of everyone entering the court
room, including reporters, who do not
know which end Of pistol goes on.
the absorption of the two men in each
other. when Felts is in court, became
more pronounced. Each, concentrated
upon the other. is moved by an almost
boyish craving to emphasize by
physical proximity lack of fear.