82

THE SHEEDY TRAIL
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Commences This Morning-
The Jury Panel Ques-
tioned.
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An interview with McFarland's At-
torney- Judge Weir of Idaho
of Mrs. Sheedy's Counsel.
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Jury Being Paneled.
The proccedings in the opening of the
Sheedy case came to a stand still this
morning. The attorneys for the de-
fense raised the question on the jury
panel rasing the point that it had not
been properly formed and not in ac-
ordance with the law, and that the de-
fense had a right to know the method
of forming the panel, used by the coun-
ty commissioners. Judge Field took
the matter under consideration until
the opening of court this afternoon.
When the court convened this after-
noon Judge Field overruled the motion
of the consel and the panelling of the
jury was then procceded with. Counsel
for both sides are using all their legal
acumen to ascertain if anu of the panel
know anything about the case. The
court room is filled ith an eager
throng of people, many ladies being in
attendance and taking a deep interest
in the case. Mrs. Sheedy's bearing is
very lady-like and with she shows the
effect of her confinement somewhat.
is bearing up under the strain very well
indeed. McFarland has not changed
much and his appearance does not indi-
cate yet that he appreciates fully the
position he occupies. During the last
few days he has been somewhat ner-
vous and at times in court will look
around with questioning eyes. At the
time we go to press no one had been
selected as a juror.
The Bee of today under the head of
" Somewhat Starting Story," comes out
with a colum screed about the Sheedy
case which began today. The state-
meuts are many of them too for fetch-
ed to be received as strictly true by the
residents of Lincoln. Believing that the
other side had its story to tell
a CALL reporter interviewed one of the
attorneys for the defense in the case of
the state agains. Sheedy and McFar-
land respeeting the charges made
against the attorneys of Monday Mc-
Farland. He said as follows, very em-
phatically: " There is not a scintilla of
truth in the charge of conspiracy on the
part of the attorneys to make Mc-
Farland a scape goat and let this case go
by default in order to aid her acquittal.
The utmost endeavor will be made to
acquit both of the defendants which we
belive will be done under the law and
the evidence governing their case. If
there has been any conspiracy in this
case or attept at conspiracy it has
come from the side if the state's attor-
neys endeavoring to patch up an ar-
rangement by which they hope to con-
vict Mrs. Sheedy; but faling in this , this
lie reported in the Bee is sent abroad
to poison the public opinion
against the defendants, and especial
ly against Mrs. Sheedy. The attorney's
for Monday McFarland have not re-
ceived, or agreed to receive, half as
much money as the Bee reporter has re-
ceived , or will receive recive for sending
abroad this malicious falsehood. many
faetured by some one to prejudice the
defense.
One other statement they make is
that if she comes out clear she is to re-
ceive $80,000, while the estate will not
realize $80,000, half of which in any
event goes to the brothers and sisters of
John Sheedy.
Another trouble is, a few attorneys
have tried to crawl in with the case
by various means, but falling in that
malign their brother attorneys who
have been employed for these defend-
ants.
The statement that Mr. Strode had
announced that if Mrs. Sheedy was
cleared he would have enough money
to buy a fine house, has not the merit
of having a vestige of truth in it. It is
all manufactured out of whole cloth.
The fee to be recived from Mrs.
Sheedy on her acquital is a very mod-
erate and reasonable one the amount
of which is dictated by Mrs. Sheedy's
uncle, Mr. Bigerstaf. who came here
some days ago from Bouis City, Idaho,
he being a state senator of that state,
bringing with him Judge Weir of that
state. If the attorneys for the state will
pay less attention to trying to manufac-
ture public opinion through the news
papers and will simply discharge their
duties, and go right along sawing wood.
they probaly will subserve the interst
of the state just as well.
We are defending two people charged
with murder both of whom we think in-
nocent. We will use all honest endeav-
ors at out command to secure their ac-
quittal and will not try to bolster up
our case by endeavoring to poisoning
the public mind against them.
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