The Washington times., 1923-04-23
JURY IS
!. PROVING HARD
T0PICK
veniremen Are Subjected to
Searching Questioning by
Both Sides.

With the Government having
used up five of its challenges and
the defense having excused four
from serving, the process of select
ing q jury for the trial of Charles
w. Morse, ship magnate, Of New
York, his three sons and four
others, indicted for conspiracy to
defraud the Government in war.
time ship contracts, was again
taken up this morning in Criminal
Court, No. I, Justice Stafford pre-
string.
When court adjourned Saturday
at noon, altogether thirty nine ven
iremen had been examined, the
procedure Of necessity being a slow
and tedious one by reason OF the
searching and lengthy questioning
of each OF the prospective Jurors,
not only by District Attorney Cor
don, but particularly by Judge Nash
lockwood, OF New York, OF counsel
for the defense. This lawyer leaves
no stone unturned by his searching
questions TO get at the innermost
thoughts Of the men in the jury
box as to their attitude in the case.
Great emphasis is laid on the
presumption BY the lawyers for the
defense that the case involves q
question Of bookkeeping and should
therefore be be tried IN the civil
and not in the criminal courts
Talesmen are asked whether under
instructions from the court they
would adopt that view. Another
question based on the assumption
that the case is for revenge" fof
political motive to get even,' Ii
constantly being driven into the
minds Of the prospective jurymen
by counsel for the defense. who
have also taken up the question a.
to affiliations Of the talesnen with
secret societies and labor organize
tons. 1t has been suggested thai
the purpose Of this line Of examina
ton - to ascertain whether there
are any members Of the Ku K1u1
Khan In the jury box.
The surety Of being required II
be In attendance at the trial for al
least six weeks. five days a week
Is having It's effect on the mer
called Tor jury duty. Another
thought which bOthers them con
| be locked up over night while thu
trial Is on, or permitted Is rs HON,
with their families. Al large mum
Der Of those summoned on the jlir,
are members OF the Masonic fbrater
nifty, ana the idea OF spending theiI
time in o. sultry court room lnaIeat
OF joining their brethren in thu
great Shriners' convention does no
particularly appeal to them.
New Witnesses Called.
Edgar c. Snyder, United States
marshal, today received from coun
sci for Morse q list of witnesses
who will be called to testify q
the trial in behalf Of the accused
Those named in the list are: Ed
ward b. Mclean, owner Of thu
Washington Post; Harry M. Daugh
erty. Attorney General Of thu
United States; Senator Davis Elkinl
Of West Virginia; Stuart Gibboney
Of New York, w. A. Barber, o
New York. and Martin J. Gillen
| OF New York, the last three name.
being lawyers; and Fletcher M
/ Dobyns, Of New York, formerl!
an assistant to Attorney Genera
Daugherty.
i The question as to the numbe
Of challenges allowed the Govern
ment was discussed when the cour
| adjourned for the MONDAY recess
/ The Government has used six o
| the challenges so far and counse
| for the defense contented that undo
the criminal code the Government
had exhausted its challenges, ant
| that the defense was entitled t,
| ten challenges. This claim wa
contested by District Attorney Cor
don who contended that the Gov
eminent was entitled to to as man!
challenges as the defense.