The Wilmington morning star., 1947-02-20
SELECTING JURY
PROVES PROBLEM
Continued From Page One)

06S AAS
member of the special venire,
said that he had read about the
case in the newspapers. He said
he thought he could give the state
an impartial verdict.
But when the defense began
questioning him, he admitted the
states impartial verdict" would
be one of guilty. He said the evil
dence, as reported in the news
papers. was strong and that any
the defense might offer might not
erase my belief of his (Grissett's)
guilt"
There was another Wrightsville
Beach resident who believes what
the newspapers have to say. He
believes in his favorite morning
papers ability to report the truth
impartially so strong that he said
his impression was unfavorable"
to the defendant. He was Martin
Pearsall, and he said he had read
all about the charges.
c. J. Carpenter of Masonboro
Sound, declared that he had form
ed an unfavorable impression to-
ward the defendant. He said he be-
lieved Grissett was guilty as charg-
ed. He added that he didn't believe
he could give the defendant a fair
trial.
Under cross examination by
Judge Luther Hamilton, he said
he would 60 in the jury box with an
unfavorable impression for the de-
lfendant.
J. G. Brown of Wilmington, was
the first prospe. tive juror to be
called after the noon recess.
He said he had read about the
case in the newspapers. He furth-
er stated that he believed Grissett
was guilty but he said if the de-
Tense offered testimony to prove
otherwise he would give the de-
fendant the benefit of the doubt.
Browns statements were liked by
the state, but the defense would
have none of him.
Marion Smith of Wilmington, said
he had read all about the case in
the newspapers. However, he said
he had formed no opinion one way
or the other. But on the other hand.
he said. if he had a reasonable
doubt of Grissett's innocence, he
would refuse to give it to him. But
he declared he had an open mind
about the matter. He was, of
course, excused by the defense.
Another prospective juror, j. H.
Jewell, who lives on the Airport
Road, said he had read about the
case. But lie declared he had an
open mind in the matter. However,
he said he would require the state
to prove that Grissett was guilty
before he would render a verdict
against the defendant. The state
didn't like his answers, either.
This kept up until 2:44 D. m.
when IL men had been. selected.
However, the state decided that it
didn't like the CLEAN in the eyes
of n of the jurors sitting on the
back row The state excused him,
and the ring-around-t he-rosy start
ed all over again.
No less than Is jurors we're call
ed before a substitute was found
for this man. Finally, at 3:46 D..
m e. F. Courie, who lives at
Wrightsville Beach, told the court
that he had not read about the
case, had formed no opinion, had
an open mind and could give the
defendant a fair trial both from
the defense's and states stand
joint. He was accepted.
Then the ordeal of selecting the
18th man got underway. However.
Judge Hamilton said that the state
and the defense could turn down
two each. The selection of the 18th
man didn't take long for that very
reason.
AT 400 o. m. the trial actually
got underway with the following
men sitting in the juror box:
F. D. Emory, T. B. Roper, j. w.
Wilson, C. E. Nance, J. N. Sand
ers. E.. L. johnson, G.. B. Craig. J.
r. Brown. Paul H. Wallace, Cyrus
Wooten. c. H. Jewell and E. F.
Courie.
George Sloan will substitute in
the event one of the above 70 he.
comes i'll. faints or has the belly
'ache.