The Wilmington morning star., 1947-12-16
FRITZ COUNSEL
fcontinued From Page One)

sow for the prosecution is retain
ed. He referred to two state-ap-
pointed lawyers, Buford F. Wli-
iiams and w. H. Strickland, both
of Caldwell county.
Arguing for the motion, Folger
L. Townsend, defense attorney
declared:
"When a man is put on trial
like this defendant, l think it's
his inherent right to know why
he's being privately prosecuted.
Judge Allen H. Gwyn OF
Reidsville, who commented that
he personally knew of no pre-
cedent for defense inquiry INTO
means of employing prosecution
counsel, called the opposing at
torneys before him for private
consultation.
Judge Instructs
The jurist then instructed the
court stenographer to "let the re-
cord show" that the solicitor
states that ''no representative" OF
any group or "private interest"
is associated with the prosecu-
ton.
His statement was folloyed by
Solicitor Farthing's declaration
in open court that the appoint
ment of the two attorneys was
with leave of the solicitor and
with the approval of the attor-
ney general x x x"
No indication as to what other
agencies the defe.-se will charge
are involved in the case was con-
tanned in the motion. Spectators
recalled, however, that some of
Fritz's fellow teacher h ave
charged that certain individuals
who opposed his South Piedmont
proposals for higher teacher sal
aries are "persecuting" him for
having championed that case.
Court was adjourned late to-
day after the jury, which includ-
es 18th Or alternate juror, had
been selected. The jury is COM
posed of Claude Bradshaw and
G. D. Wilson, farmers; Bryant
Triplett, Guy Barlow, Clarence
Walker and Lindsay D. Anderson,
furniture workers.; j. M. Gossler,
Jr., furniture company execu-
tive; J. Ray Tolbert, Walter L.
Lenoir, T. S. Richards and E. E.
league, Jr., merchants; and H.
c. Lackey, automobile appliance
salesman, Jay Gray, a former en-
jloye of the local bus terminal,
was named as sthe 18th juror.
Members of the prosecution
said they expected the case to
continue for most Of the week.
However, a different view was
held by Rep. Max c. Wilson, de-
fensee counsel, who forecast its
end by late Wednesday.
The defense counsel said that
approximately 100 witnesses
would be called to testify for
Fritz, while the prosecution said
it would present about 40.
The widespread interest that
the case has attracted was seen
in the questioning of prospective
jurors, of whom several W ,e sx-
c,,ed by either the court, the pro-
secution or the defense. Some
said they had formed opinions in
the case and one talesman said he
had promised to contribute to a
citizens group which was form
ed here in Fritz's behalf.
Solicitor Farthing questioned
the the talesman at length e they
had been associated with citizens
committee, if they had attended
mass meeting held by it and if
they had read the case in several
newspapers which are circulated
in this area.
Fritz, named in nine different
indictments which charge him
with payroll Irregularities at the
Hudson school which he served
as principal last term, was ac-
companied by his wife and his
aged father, former president of
Lenoir Rhyme c. llege and now
head of the mathematics depart
ment at the Hickory institution.