Imperial Valley press., 1928-01-26
FREQUENT
CLASHES
A 7 I RIAL
"F0x's" Attorneys Take
All Possible Time For
Selecting Jury.
JUDGE URGES SPEED
Northern Jurist Attempts
To Prevent Unnecessary
Delays.
By United Press Leased wire

COZ RTROOM, Los Angeles, Jan.
ga battle SCARED veteran Of
the bench, an amused and slightly
ratronizing district attorney and two
hoyish defense attorneys were well
launched in a bitter fight late to-
day to obtain jury to try William
Edward Hickman.
With the opening Of the afternoon
session five jurors had been tenn
rorarily accepted, but the trend of
questioning by jerome Walsh. pink
checked and daprcr defense attorney,
indicated that the defense would
not halt until its last challenge had
been exhausted.
Encounters between Judge j. j.
Trabucco Of Mariposa county, and
Hickman 8 youthful counsel, served
to keep the courtroom in the grip of
tense expectancy as the court time
and again ovcrrulcd the objections
OF the defense or sustained the
state.
Grim, dignificd. and ever alert,
the stern faced iurist snapped out
his rulings in staccato fashion 20
the discomfort Of the Young lawyers
Who for "A time were non -plusscd b.
the speedy and succinct answers Of
Judge TrahuccO.
AZ the day wore on they gained
more assurance, however, and
Walsh plunged into the long list of
questions which ranged from opin.
ions on fairness of an insanity de
fensc to religion and prciudiees ere
atcd either by pulpit or press or
general gossip.
For the purpose Of making it n
matter of record Walsh asked each
prospective juror if they believed
"thc facts should show beyond a
reasonable doubt that the defend
ant was insane in order to return
verdict of not guilty.
This line of questioning had been
objected to by the prosecution and
Judge Trabucco went on record as
sustaining the objection. although
permitting Walsh to put the same
question TO each juror in turn.
Woman Knows Mind
Walter &. Overell was the first
member Of the panel challenged for
cause. The challenge was allowed
on the grounds that he had formed
nm opinion in the ease.
Mrs. Mary Wheeler, a large woman
in big green hat, who was the
first temporary acceptance, gave
more or less entertaining answers,
among others one to the effect that
her husband s opinions never sway
ed her. The courtroom found relief
from the strain of technical pro-
ccedings in litter.
Lester Blummcr, the youngest
member of the tentative jury, who
took the place vacated by Ovcrcll,
was passed next. He engaged Walsh
in humorous by-play when the lat
ter referred to him as Mr.. Bloomcr
or Mr.. Blumenstein and other mis-
nomcrs.
The prospective juror, n diminu
tive talesman. came into the court
room much like n bantam rooster,
and after moving restlessly about
in his chair, as Walsh mispronounc-
ed his name, finally burst forth in
forming the defense lawyer of his
error.
Three others, William C. Bell, an
aged white haired man, Mrs. Esther
Bailey, dcmure little old lady in n
small black toduc. and another wo-
man, Mrs. Edith Gibbons. were tenn
porarily accepted.
Hickman Nervous
"The Fox' came into court Mt
the afternoon session in quick
nervous stride. He bites his lips
incessantly, a characteristic habit
being to overlap the upper lip down
upon the lower, giving him n most
peculiar expression.
Hickman keeps his eyes glued di-
rectly upon the back of Walsh's
head during most of the proceeding
and has evidenced little interest
aside from an occasional furtive
glance in the direction of the jury
or the judge.
His face was pasty white today
and contrasted sharply with his
dark curly hair which despite the
plaster of water waved about rebel
liously at the back Of his head.
1t was predicted late today that
the selection of jury would not be
completed for several days and pos
sibly may take a week.