Evening star., 1935-01-02
3 Women Are
Accepted, l8
Disqualify.
MACHINIST IS
FIRST CHOSEN
Views on Capital
Punishment Keep
Many Out.
BULLETIN.

R.-Jurors No. 6, 7, 8 and were
selected and sworn today in the
first hour of the afternoon ses-
sion of the first day of trial for
Bruno Richard Hauptmann for
murder.
BY the Associated Press.
PENNINGTON, N. j., January 2.
-Four jurors were selected from
% persons questioned before the
Hauptmann trial adjourned for lunch.
The Jurors chosen are Charles F.
Snyder, farmer; Mrs. Rosie Pill, a
widow; Mrs. Verna Snyder, housewife,
and Charles Walton, ST., a machlnlst.
The selection of the jury began al
most Immediately after the trial
opened before Justice Thomas w.
Trenchard at 1000 am. today. 1t re-
uuired slightly more than two hours
for the examining of the 16 veniremen
and the selection of three of them.
Walton. sr., sixth person to be ex-
amined in the selection OF a jury,
was the first accepted and will be
the foreman.
A slight, middle-aged man with
CRAVING hair, Walton, a machinist,
from the little hamlet Of Highbridge,
was sworn after a brief examination.
He quietly told the court he would
"be guided solely by the evidence in
the case" and that he had no preju-
dice or objection to capital punish
ment.
Hauptmann's face was a mask as
the Juror was accepted and Col.
Charles A. Lindbergh, seated a dozen
feet away from the German, was I'M
passive-arms folded, eyes on the
floor.
Prejudices Sought.
The State hammered away on the
question of opposition to capital pun
ishment, while defense counsel tried to
bring out any possible prejudiceS.
Two persons were excused because
of illness, another because of illness
in his family, while the prosecution
challenged a woman for cause when
she said she was opposed to the death
penalty and the defense used one OF
their peremptory challenges on a
man.
Mrs. Anne Morrow Lindbergh,
mother of the kidnapped and slain
infant, was not in the court room
for the opening Of the trial. Her
husband, the famous flyer, sat at
the prosecution table few feet from
the stolid Bronx carpenter accused OF
the crime.
Mrs. Hauptmann, stanch backer
of her husbands fight against con-
viction, sat unobtrusively in the rear
of the packed court room.
Concerning the court and the law
yers were two main points in the
questioning of prospective jurors-did
they read the recently distributed
pamphlet satirizing the Lindbergh
case and were they opposed to capi-
tai punishment?
OF one juror, c. Lloyd Fisher of the
defense wanted to know If the fact
that he was surrounded by State
troopers" would have any influence on
him. Justice Thomas w. Trenchard,
presiding, could see no justification
in the query.
First talesman called was Lula B.
johnson, housewife, of Delaware, a
bespectacled, middle-aged woman with
graying hair.
Iindbergh showed interest as Mrs.
johnson was sworn in.
She told the court she had formed
an opinion about the case and was
opposed to capital punishment.
When she said she was against cap
ital punishment, Prosecutor Hauck
moved that she be dismissed for cause.
Justice Trenchard in kindly voice,
questioned her on her views on capital
punishment.
Prisoner Unmoved.
AS Mrs. johnson was being ex-
amined, Hauptmann, still staring
straight ahead, his eyes half -lidded,
clasped and unclasped his hands. All
the talk of death penalty left his
face immobile and expressionless.
Madam, you say you're opposed to
capital punishment. Is it religious or
conscientious" asked Trenchard.
well, I don't think it's right to
take a mans life," she replied.
Hauck finally challenged Mrs. john
son and she was excused.
Mercer Bodine, a retired business
man OF Franklin, was the next tales
man called, but he was not in court,
and Justice Trenchard said he would
be excused because of illness.
A. r. Hickman, another retired bus
mess man, from Lebanon Township,
was the next venireman sworn. A
slight man with iron gray hair. He
said he was married and had five
children.
Fisher asked him if he had received
the pamphlet, written by Chicago
woman, satirizing the Lindbergh kid
naping investigation.
Had Not Read Book.
Hickman said he had not read it
and had formed no opinion Of Haupt-
mann's guilt or innocence. He had
received. the pamphlet however, he
said.
Fisher questioned him about the
writings of Walter Winchell, a New
York daily paper columnist. Hickman
said he didn't read the column; that
he heard him on the radio, but
wouldn't let man like that inf1u-
ence me-"
There was roar of laughter. Win
chell was in court as a reporter.
Justice Trenchard raped his gavel
and sternly and gravely warned the
spectators that such an outburst OF
laughter must not be repeated or he
would take steps to prevent re-
currence.
The defense then made a peremp-
tory challenge and Hickman stepped
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