Imperial Valley press., 1928-01-28
HICKMAN
JURY NOT
SET TIED
Talesmen Passed by Pros
ecution and Defense May
Yet Be Challenged.
KEYES IN HOLE"
Move by Slayers Attor-
neys Not Expected BE-
Prosecutor.
By DAN CAMPBELL
United Press Staff Correspondent

(Un1ted Press Staff Correspondent)
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 28-" Aceo
was in hole today, but contrary to
the rules of the great American
game his position was considered
unfavorable in the gamble for the
life of William Edward Hickman.
"Ace' is the name affectionate-
, lv applied to the ponderous district
attorney of Los Angeles county,
| Asa Keyes. Two boyish but ex-
tremelv clever defense attorneys,
jerome Walsh and Richard Cantil-
lon put him in the "hole'
The brilliant stroke through
, which the defense entangled their
grizzled opponent was accomplished
with such swiftness that even the
court was startled by the boldness
of the move, that terminated what
was to have been battle to the
end for a jury last night.
pended its sixteenth challenge. With
the jury box filled and the latest
prospective juror passed by both
! defense and state, Judge Trabuceo
called upon the prosecution to chal-
lenge and Keyes passed the jury.
Cantillon, the argumentative
member of the youthful defense
combination, quickly seized the adj
i vantage and tossed a bombshell in
to prosecution ranks by announcing
| that the defense was satisfied with
the jury. When District Attorney
Keyes hurriedly declared that he
still reserved the right to challenge
| Cantillon contested the point.
While the gray haired veteran
and Cantillon bitterly wrangled over
the issue petitioning the court for
a ruling, Judge Trabucco suddenly
decreed that court was adjourned
and ruled that further arguments
were in order Monday.
The state still retained 16 chal-
lenges when the surprising move
was made by the defense. 1t had
been expected that they would ex-
ercise every one of their 90 ehal-
lenges and it was generally believed
that they had caught the prosecu-
tion off guard.
While the question of whether a
jury has actually been completed
was still matter of debate, argu-
ments in connection with the issue
are expected to be settled quickly
when court convenes Monday morn
ing.
Middle-Aged Jury
The jury, if accepted. will consist
of nine men. and three women, for
the most part past the prime of life.
GREY haired talesmen who might
well be grandparents and whose
views might be expected to be OPP
posed to the "jazz age" will deter
mine the fate of the youthful slayer
Hickman.
The session yesterday was carried
long past the regular hour for ad-
journment when it appeared likely
that a jury might be obtained.
Judge Trabueco, it was reported,
hoped to complete the jury last
night and plunge into the actual
taking of testimony Monday.
A drowsy, humid atmosphere per-
Vaded the court room as the after
noon session wore on, the hum of
traffic flowed up from the streets
and through the open windows and
court and spectators moved rest
lessly as the drab jury examination
proceeded.
Insanity, prejudice, bias, death
penalty and capital punishment
the words went droning over the
heads of the spectators as Walsh
and Cantillon weeded out this oh
.jectionablc juror and that.