The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-09-30

Il understand that many
prospective jurors i'll this case
have received anonymous
letters from Greenfield and
Wilkinson in Hancock coun-
ties" Adney said. 81 under
stand these letters have come
from the remnants of an old
organization"
Although Adney would not COM
ment further, it was learned the
letters were supposed to have been
written by former members of the
Ku Klux Khan in Hancock county.
Called 'Grandstand Play
Adney also questioned veniremen
to determine whether they had been
recipients of marked newspapers in
the last few weeks. This, the seated
taleSmen, also denied.
States attorneys turned the tales
men over to the defense for the sec
ond time, shortly before noon adj
journment. This move assured the
states approval of six men now in
the box.
Carl Ottinger CT Lebanon, who
was in the park at the time of the
reunion picnic and who found two
Of the poisoned sandwiches, was ex-
cused by the state.
He said he talked to members of
the Ora Pollard family about the
case. The reunion was being held
for members of the Pollard and
Simmons families.
Selection of jury to try the
murder case progressed slowly, with
only six men accepted tentatively
By the state and defense.
Peremptory challenges of the state
have been reduced to seven, while
the defense holds nineteen with
which they could change the aspect
OF the jury entirely.
Attorneys hope the jury will be
seated by Thursday morning.
Mrs. Simmons, still calm during
the tedious questioning, wore a
brown dress to the courtroom today.
substituting it for the green and
blue dress she wore Monday and
Tuesday.
Wants Hard Boiled Jury
That the state wants Jurors who
are not tender-hearted and the de-
tense is DESTROYS of seating twelve
men who have families with sons
and daughters the age of those Mrs.
simmons, became more evident to-
day. as questioning continued.
The states attorneys are preiu-
diced against male romancers. while
the defense shows prediction for
family men-the more family the
better.
Fear that masculine softness to-
ward the Trailer sex might sway
the trial came when Ben Scifres,
prosecutor, placed the question be-
fore one venireman. Would you be
swayed by the fact that a woman
is being tried?"
Il might be, I'm not sure" re-
torted the prospective Juror.
"Uhl then you're a little tender
hearted toward women" suggested
the prosecutor.
The juror was excused from serv-
ice later.
Throng in Corridors
And while attorneys wrangled in
the court room or quizzed prospec-
tive jurors today, the corridors Of
the Boone county circuit court was
a guest list of many of those who
attended the fatal picnic that ended
in strychnine death for two chill
dren, illness for five more, and near
death for the others.
Among those we're tWanty-seven
persons who gathered around a
rough-hewn board table under a
park tree on June 81, prepared to
eat plenty and have a good time.
only to find that death and tragedy
was their sandwich filings.
They mingled with the crowd Of
spectators, but late in the morning
returned to their hotels. They were
pointed out and in turn did some
pointing out of their own, as Mrs.
Simmons was led by Sheriff Wilbur
Small to her courtroom seat.
Prosecutor TO Open
On June 81 she was one Of them.
one Of the family. But today she
was on trial for her life and among
those who formed that picnic guest
list in the courthouse corridors were
persons, relatives. who would be
called by the state to give testimony
against her.
Prosecutor Scifres viii make the
opening statement to the Jury and
Charles L. Tindall of Greenfield. IS