Evening star., 1932-02-01
ALLEN CASE Jury
SELECTION SLOW
Hour and Half Required to
Seat Two Because of Sem
timent in Staying.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press
NORRISTOWN, Pa. February 1T
took one hour and a half today to Sc
Iect the first two jurors for the trial of
EDWARD H. B. Allen, 23-year-o So
clety man, charged with the killing of
francis A. Donaldson, third
Most OF the prospective jurors called
Tor duty in the trial which began before
Judge Harold G. Knight in the Mont
| gomery County Court had either formed
an opinion in the case or had cOnscien-
tlouS ScrupleS against capital punish
ment.
Defendant Is Attentive.
Allen, charged with killing Donald
son after quarrel over the latters at
| tlonS to Aliens sister, Rose, gave close
! attention as jurors were called to sit IN
judgment in his case.
HIS sister did not appear in the court
room while jurors were being examined
but remained IN small room in the
district attorneys Office reading. Her
attorney, Elmer A. Schroeder. said he
did not think she would 60 to the court
room until she is called by the COM
monWealth as a witness.
Horace Allen, father Of the prisoner.
also did not appear in the court room.
Speculation on Penalty.
Speculation as to whether District
Attorney Stewart Nase would ask for
the death penalty for Allen was height
ened when the commonwealth in exam
mlng jurors asked them their attitude
toward capital punishment Before the
trial opened Nase said he did not know
Whether ne would ask for the extreme
penalty or life imprisonment. but would
be guided by the evidence as developed
in the trial
The foreman Of the Jury is George
Devices, an unemployed labOrer who
Is married and has 21-year-old son.
Relationship Strained.
The father, has said Donaldson
Wronged his daughter. Mrs Allen,
before her death last year, sought
10 block the romance Strained rela-
tlOns between the l8-year-old society
girl and her father and brother reached
the breaking point November 10. the
Gay OF the shooting, and she moved to
a hotel in Philadelphia
At the hotel she met Donaldson and
It was decided that he should call On
the Aliens TO attempt a reconciliation.
Accompanied by a friend Albert Gal
latin H. Lucas he went TO the Allen
apartments at the Green Hill Farms
Hotel
Various versions OF what ensued will
be moot testimony in the trial Horace
Allen said Donaldson was ordered to
leave and that he replied by striking
Eddie Allen in the face
With that the Younger Allen rushed
from the room. He returned with a
shotgun and met Donaldson in the
foyer There was a flash. a report and
Donaldson fell mortaIly wounded
Defense attorneys have indicated
they may attempt to show that the
gun was discharged by accident as Al
len sought merely to threaten Donald
son with it.
Blames Brother and Father.
To Rose Allen. however. the affair
was no accident She placed full blame
for the tragedy squarely upon her
brother and her father and said she
never would forgive them.
SubpOenaed as prosecution witness,
she has said her testimony will be neu-
tral. She has retained an attorney to
give her advice when she is called TO
testify.
Allen Pleads Not Guilty.
A4ItI pItdutG 44Ol SullN NLlel JI4e Ill
diCtment against him was read.
Examination Of the first juror called
indicated the prosecution had not elimi-
mated the death penalty from the case
The man was not accepted by the
prosecution because he did not favor
the use of the electric chair for the
death penalty.
Judge Harold G Knight indicated he
expected it might take two days to fill
the jury box.