Evening star., 1942-06-30
Ek|und Trial Opens
With Prosecution
Asking Death Penalty
Witness Who AIIeged!y
Saw 'Sniper Shooting
To Go on Stund

The Government today opened its
case against John Eugene Eklund,
27, accused as the "sniper slayer"
Of Hyland McClaine, II, colored, in
1910, through Assistant United
States Attorney Charles B. Murray,
who told the jury evidence to be in
troduced would lead to a "conclu-
sion inescapable" that the defend
ant was guilty and the Government
would ask return Of q f1rst-degree
murder charge.
Eklund was sentenced to death for
the murder a year ago, but won
new trial when 1t was disclosed that
a prosecution witness had given per-
tured testimony about his own GRIM
inal record.
The second trial began in District
Court before Justice James w. Nor
ris after nearly a week spent in Sc
lecting a jury. Mr.. Murray told the
court Government witness who
saw the shooting, Mildred Virginia
Washington. colored, 2300 block of
Virginia avenue NV. would be
called to the stand.
Defense Based on Alibl.
Shortly before noon Harry T.
Whelan began his opening state
ment for the defense. He said that
on the day Of the shooting Eklund
was at home practicing on his
stereotype machine and then went
to bed. The defense also contended
the girl could not be positive in her
identification because of darkness
and bad weather.
An alleged missing link in the case,
a .38-caliber pistol. found by police
buried in Baltimore park after a
tip from an inmate of the District
Jail, will be offered In evidence by
the prosecution. However, Mr.. Muir
ray told the court that because of
exposure 1t had corroded" and
would be hard to identify.
Mr.. Murray said another witness
for the Government would be Marvin
Richard Harlow, who while an in
mate of the District Jail struck up
friendship with Eklund which led
to the search for the missing gun.
245 Veniremen Questioned.
Eklund faced a jury OF five women
and seven men completed in District
Court yesterday after 245 veniremen
had been questioned. Six days were
required TO complete the jury-the
procedure being one of the longest
in local court annals.
Some of the prospective jurors
were excused because they had
formed opinions about the case, but
large number got off because they
were opposed to capital punishment.
Others were released on pleas that
their businesses already were suffer-
ing serious wartime shortage of
personnel. The jury is being locked
up each night.
The Jury List:
Jurors are:
Alexander J. Carvanes,, hairdress-
er, 1850 Connecticut avenue NV;
Mrs. Helen M. Harding, Census Bu-
reau, 1920 Fourth street NV; Mrs.
Clara r. Feltner, housewife. 4524
Chesapeake street NV: Walter E.
Cersley. theater manager, 5000 Jen-
ifer street NV: Charles L. Piquette,
travelling salesman, 45l2 Fifth street
NV; William L. Wheeler, l25 Sixth
street Sc; Mrs. Ida S. Luckett.
housewife. 1434 Geranium street
NV: Mrs. Erlin Gross, housewife,
zoos Twenty-third street NV; Mrs.
Neal w. Mccormack. clerk, 484o
Rodman street NV: Preston F.
Mcdaniel, department store en-
ploye, 1880 Seventeenth street NV:
Albert S. Donovan, hotel employe,
1929 Illinois avenue NV, and Ed
win L. Yates. 1875 Mintwood place
NV. General Motors Co. salesman.
Two alternate jurors chosen are
John E. Quisenberry. District gov
ernment employe. and George A.
Hayes, General Accounting Once
emDlOye. 1405 G street SE