Evening star., 1936-08-19
Jury COMPLETED
FOR MOORE TRIAL
Defense to Contest Legality
of Confession in COED
Staying.
EY the Associated Press.

6y the ASSOCIdtcQ FEeSS.
ASHEVILLE, N. c.. August ia
jury to try huge Martin Moore for the
death Of pretty Helen Clevenger was
completed today just before Buncombe
County Superior Court recessed for
lunch.
Its selection followed rapidly after
]. Scroop Styles. court-appointed coun-
sci for the 22-year -old colored former
hall boy at the Battery Park Hotel,
announced the defense would contest
the legality of a confession obtained
by Sheriff Laurence Brown, when the
Negro was arrested after . 24-day
investigation.
Styles said the defense would fight
introduction Of the confession on the
ground that it was obtained through
duress and promises Of leniency. and
that Moore was not under legal arrest
at this time.
In the confession he signed, Moore.
6 foot 3, said he entered the 18-year-
old New York University co-ed's room
to rob 1t, becoming panic-stricken to
find her awake and screaming.
Sheriff Brown clung to his theory,
however, that Moore had watched the
honor student from q rear stairway
which commanded the window of her
room and entered to attack her, and
was blocked from such an attempt
by her cries.
The confession and all evidence
gathered by officers indicated she was
shot and her face battered with the
pistol butt about am, July Is. Her
body was found about $50 am. by
Prof. w. L. Clevenger of North Caro-
lima State College at Raleigh. her
uncle, with whom the Staten Island,
N. Y, girl was travelling. He and
his brother, c. B. Clevenger, also q
professor at the college, followed pro-
ceedings intently this morning from
places within the bar.
Styles, court-appointed attorney for
Moore, earlier asked Judge Phillips to
felieve him of the assignment when
Sanford Brown, another Asheville at
torney, announced he had been re-
tanned.
Brown told the court sister Of the
defendant, living in Massachusetts,,
had wired him to represent her
brother.
Judge Phillips instructed Styles to
continue with Thomas A. Jones, jr.. as
defense counsel, Temporarily at least. "
the two attorneys being Joined by
Brown.
Five Veniremen Fined.
Five veniremen who failed to answer
the roll call were ordered fined $40
each by Judge Don F. Phillips.
The tall defendant, attired in black
shirt and black trousers, rested his
huge hands on the back Of his chair
as Solicitor Zeb v. Nettles advised
him of his rigths. He sat quietly as
questioning of prospective jurors
began. Moore's published confession
was that he went to the girls hotel
room about / am. July Is to rob it,
but killed her in q moment Of panic
at finding her awake and screaming.
Sheriff Laurence E. Brown, who
headed the 24-day investigation which
resulted finally in Moore's arrest, in
sisted on his belief, however. that the
Negro,s object was ravishment and
that such an attempt was baked by
the girls cries.
Calling of the venire list required
20 minutes. The first three jurors
questioned were seated. They were:
CASTOR Meads, gray-haired coal deal
er: Cecil Bishop. 80. employe OF q
bleachery plant, and Morris Meyers,
65, department store owner.
Thomas Benson, Sc, farmer, was
qualified, but the defense exercised
the second of its allotment OF 16
peremptory challenges.
w. B. Scott, 38. druggist, became
Juror No. 4 and in short order j. q.
Garrison, 5l-year-old farmer. became
No. 5.
Spectators Crane Necks.
Spectators began arriving at s am.
and the court room was filled more
than an hour before the session was
opened at $50 o'clock. Five minutes
after court was called to order, Moore.
in black shirt and black trousers.
(See TRIAL, Page A-s.)