Evening star., 1926-04-12
WAN FACES THIRD
TRIAL FOR HIS LIFE
Several Days May Be Re-
CURED in Selection of Chi
nese Murder Jury.

Ziang Sun Wan, the former Chinese
student. was placed on trial for his
life today in Criminal Court Division
] for the third time in seven years.
The Government and counsel for the
defendant encountered the first of
what they expect will be a series Of
Notwithstanding a jury with open
minds and no previous knowledge of
the case or former trials to sit in
judgment of the Chinese, who is
charged with the murder of Ben Sen
NVu at the Chinese Educational Mis-
sion here January 30. 1919.
The case got under way promptly at
10 o'clock before Justice Adolph A.
Hoehling, who, at the last minute. was
selected to preside over the case in
place of Justice Jennings Bailey. BY
IL o'clock Is talesmen had been ex-
cused from sitting on the jury, large
ly because of their previous knowledge
of the case and former trials, while
three had been seated. These three,
however. are subject to challenge at a
later date should opposing counsel
deem it necessary.
Special Venire Necessary.
Both United States Attorney Peyton
Gordon and Wilton J. Lambert, chief
defense counsel, were reluctant to be-
lieve today that a satisfactory jury
could be obtained for several days at
least.
The regular April term of the petit
jury was brought into the courtroom,
and by noon jurors from other
courts We're sent for with the hope
of Qualifying some Of them. Failing
to obtain the necessary IL men from
the present term, a special venire
will be issued.
At the outset of the trial today, Mr..
Lambert wanted to know If the jury
would be locked up. in which event
he wanted the question disposed of
at this time. There have been talks,
rumors and threats about it from
the district attorneys office" he de-
clared. Maj. Gordon replied he knew
of no rumors or threats to that effect
and felt that the matter of deciding
if the jury should be locked up is en-
tirely up to the court.
There have been reports in the
press that the district attorney would
make a motion to have the jury lock-
ed up" added Mr.. Lambert. JUS
tice Hoehling declared there was
nothing before him on that subject.
Question Not Settled.
Am I to understand that the dis
trict attorney will make a motion:
asked Mr.. Lambert, addressing the
court.
II don't know what the district at
torney is going to DO replied JUS
tice Hoehling. He'll have to speak
for himself
The discussion on the subject ended
there, with no light as to whether the
Jury would be locked up during the
progress of the trial.
Khan Question Asked.
The usual questions for qualification
We're asked the talesmen by Maj. Cor
don and Mr.. Lambert. with the view
of obtaining impartial and unbiased
thoughts on the case and on capital
punishment and circuinStantial evil
dence. Mr.. Lambert, however, injected
a question heretofore unused. 1t was
Are you, or have you been. a member
of the Ku KluX Klan?'
With the exception of one man. who
was excused for being over age, and
another for being resident outside of
the District, all talesmen challenged
for cause had read of the first or Sec
ond, or both trials, and had formed
definite opinions as 10 the guilt or
innocense of the defendant.
Owing to the wide publicity over
more than a month given to the Sec
ond trial in January and February,
Maj. Gordon and Mr.. Lambert feel
this will be the biggest deterrent to
their efforts to select IL men.
George D. Horning, jr., assistant
United States attorney, and who tried
the case in court at the second trial,
was at his table as Maj Gordons as
sistant today. Rudolph H. Yeatman,
former Senator A. o. Stanley of Ken
lucky and Austin +. Garfield are as
sisting Mr.. Lambert.
Wan appeared in court attired in a
fawn-colored suit with tie to match.
He appeared in splendid health and
greeted his counsel on their arrival
in the courtroom.