86

IN A MIGHTY EFFORT.
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The Selection of a Jury for the
Murder Trail
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Goes On in the Same Old Way
Nearing the End- All Have
Opinions.
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The Inquisition.
Court adjourned at 4:45 yesterday to
await more jurors.
During the four days 216 had been
called, but the jury box still lacked one
of being full. Those who occupied the
box at time of adjournment yesterday
were James Reed, Jams Van Campion.
George Albrecht, J. C. Jensen, A. B.
Nortop, F. A. Graham, A. W. Gale, H.
H. Shatzell. John H. Hart, Clyde Kirk
patrick and A. W. Wilddifield.
Ten peremptory challenges are yet
due the defense and three the state.
It is thought that a regular panel may
be reached today or tomorrow at
farthest.
The monotonous grid of today be
gan at 9 o'clock, with court room
fairly filled with men of various ages
and colors, but no women.
The defendants occupied their old po-
sitions before the bad and their faces
betokend good cheer.
The attorneys, too, were in the best
of humor and would occasionally crack
a joke at the expense of each other in a
truly artistic way.
The newspaper reporters have been
dropping on one by one until now, where
half a dozen sat on the opening days,
but two or three remain, Col. Cutright
of the Journal and Col. Moore of the
News being particularly noticeable. To
the others the proceedings become wear-
some and they have sought and found
other assignments for the time being.
Mrs. Sheedy has been joined by an-
other sister now, Mrs. Baker, and the
four watch with deeper interest
than anyone else the proceedings
that drag slowly along. Judge Weir,
who is retained by Mrs. Sheedy, is a
silent witness also, but is sometimes
seen in earnest conversation with his
client or her uncle, J. W. Biggerstaff
Judge Field, a little nervous and
fidgety at times, shifts himself into varl-
ous positions while waiting to pro-
nounce the now well well-works, " jur-
or excused."
Monday McFarland is perhaps the
most immovable of the lot inside the
ralling, for he sits for hours in one posi-
tion without moving his head or body.
or apparently a muscle, his eye fixed
upon the witness chair or attorneys.
Among those who took the stand this
morning to be pilled with questions
touching their qualifications as juror
on this most sensational of
Nebraska murder cases was
Dan Graham, who is fifty-two years
old. He had seen the late John Sheedy
in life, had an opinion, but still thought
he was capable of rendering a fair and
impartial verdict, yet he was sick and
wanted to be excused. And he was.
C. A. Rising has been eleven years a
citizen, had an opinions on this case but
still could be governed by evidence.
He had read all reports, etc. was there-
fore challenged and excused.
James Croy had an opinion based on
what he had read and heard. But not
withstanding this belived he could re-
der a fair and impartial verdict. These
opinions could be swept away by evi-
dence. He passed by the defense
and prosecution and ordered to the jury
box.
The twenty-first challenge of the de-
fense was exercised and F. A. Graham
was ordered to vacate his chair in the
box.
W. H. Wilson was then called and he
was another who could forego his per-
sonal opinions and governed by the
evidence. He had no objections to
capital punishement. However, the de-
fense challnged him for couse and he
was excused.
S. M. Miller was from Centerville
precinct where he had lived " twenty
year or up'ards" but did not know Jehn
Sheedy. Really had no opinion as to
guilt or innocence of the accused,
though he had read several Lincoln pa-
pers--- but he had no faith in newspaper
evidence nor in newspaper. He had
read the News principally. As to cir-
cumstantial evideance he would take into
consideration the character of the par-
ties, and had no obhections to the death
penalty. He had fermed no opinion as
to the method of Sheedy's death. He
was ordered to the jury box, and the
defense was allowed the twenty-third
challenge and again Mr. Miller walked
---on the peremptory challenge.
C. M. Green was called, but he heard
part of the testmony before the coro-
ner's jury and had formed an opinion.
He was excused.
Ed. Trimble had an opinion based on
reports, but this would cut no figure
with him as to rendering a verdict, but
he did have conscieutions ecrupls
against the infliction of the death pen-
alty and was excused.
L. Westling had lived in Nebraska
twenty-two years and in North Bluff
precinct since March. Had read Mon-
day McFarland's confession and on this
had formed his opinion. He was obal-
lenged and excused.
John M. Pollock, a farmer form North
Bluff, precinct. had no conscientious
scruples and belived he could render a
fair and impartial verdict. He had
formed an opinion but could go into
the case with unbaised mind. But
the defense chanllenged, and he was ex-
cused.
Robert T. McClelland, Emerson Day,
Thomas Herdman and others were
called to the stand, gave the usual testi-
mony as to what their opinions were
based on and quickly excused, all seem-
ing, unlike Mr. Miller, to have had faith
in newspaper reports and these were
foundations for a belief that it would
take storngest of evidence to remove.
And so it continued until noon, when
the third special panel had been drawn
and adjournment taken until 3 o'clock
this afternoon, when the work was re-
sumed in the same old strain toward
selecting a jury.