The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-04-23

"hOAO DOth NOAN Nhh RAOJ NN 90
The jury in the case is expected
to be faced with this question:
Is the fact that a man went
through five major battles in the
World War. suffering from shell
shock and gas, valid explanation
for an alleged murderous act.
Pick Jury
Both Prosecutor William H. Remy
and Charles j. Orbison, chief defense
counsel, were expected to agree upon
a jury this afternoon. Orbison dis
missed six men this morning. One
was discharged because he said he
had read of the case and had con-
cluded Owens was guilty Of murder.
Self.preservation will also be a
defense, it was indicated.
The law OF self-defense was put to
all jurors by Orbison and Remy.
Each were asked their opinion sep
arately. Shortly after trial opened
Remy objected to Orbisons inter
pretation' Of the law. Several times
Judge James A. Collins interrupted
Orbison in his presentation Of the
law.
In summing up the law Orbison
said: THE law of self-defense ap-
plies to a person who ie in a place
where he has a right to be and is
assaulted by another person and re-
turns the attack to protect himself,
II he justly believes his life or prop
erty or someone near and dear to
him is in danger"
do you believe that to be a rea-
sonable rule?" Orbison asked each
juror. Would you apply 1t In this
case?" he further asked.
IF the evidence disclosed the fact
that Louis Owens, the defendant,
did kill George Robinson while act
ing within that rule. You would not
hesitate in voting for his acquittaI?"
Orbison questioned. They all an
swered they would not.
Wife Present
Owens, a small, frail, black haired
man, sat in rear Of Orbison beside
Mrs. Owens. his wife. He took active
interest in the jury examination and
many times conferred with Orbison.
and Tilford Orbison, who is assisting
his father.
On the State side and near Prose-
cutor Remy sat Mrs. George Robin
son, wife Of the slain man. She
was attired In black dress and veil
draped hat.
Owens has been in the county Jail
since the murder. Part Of his time
there was occupied by shaving and
cutting the hair Of the other
prisoners.
Owens is charged by the State
with having followed Robinson from
the Ayres barber shop to the rest
room on the floor below and there to
have stabbed Robinson in the neck
with scissors.
Owens, the State alleges, came out
Of the washroom and told an Ayres
employe what he had done.
Robinson was found in the wash.
room dead. Owens, it is said, waited,
half in a daze. until police came and
took him to Jail. He has been there
since.
Attorney Orbison indicated Owens
mental condition will be backbone Of
the defense. 1t was expected a
picture Of man going through the
strain OF dangerous assignments in
conflict as a member Of the engineer
ing corps, would be the background
Next, 1t was indicated, there will
be painted a picture OF the effect OF
three months quarrel between the
two BARRIERS upon a mind and body
wracked by the memory Of war hor-
rors.
Quarrel Over Tools
The defense contends that the
trouble started when Robinson used
Owens tools and dulled them.
Petty arguments, jibes and taunts
followed at various intervals, 1t is
said, the whole growing in the mind
of the shellshock victim to the pro-