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THE FRAY TO BEGIN TODAY

IN THE INTERESTING SHEEDY CASE

The Jury Will Probably be Completed and Sworn In Before Noon and the Trial Begun

Some of the Rumors and Speculations Caught Flying Around Yesterday in Relation to Matters of Vital Interest

Will the Confession be Admitted

The all-absorbing theme of popular inquiry and discourse, the great Sheedy murder case will be [?] at 9 0'clock to-day and the interest will doubtless increase from day to day henceforth throughout the trial, which promises to last for three weeks at the least. Only two permentory challenges remain, and it is more than probable that the jury panel will be completed by noon to-day. Should this be the case the afternoon session will probably be devoted to the opening statements of attorneys for the respective sides, from which some idea of the anticipated lines of action may be derived.

All day yesterday and during the two nights intervening since the close of court Saturday afternoon the vigilant cohorts of the state have kept a watchful eye upon movements of people around the court house, where the jury was in charge of two bails asit was claimed that a scheme was on foot to tamper there with. There were no ontoward evidences, however, of any such effort or design and those about the court house positively denied any reason to fear it although the friends of the states [?] protested that they know that a well known local character who enjoys some distinction as an alleged tampered with juries has been very diligently trying to exercise his profession in connection with the case.

It is related that the [?] madame of a house of ill fame in this city told an acquaintance on Saturday of some facts of her own knowledge in connection with Mrs.Sheedy's past life in Lincolm, and the friend communicated the same at once to one of the attorneys for the prosecution. How the knowledge got any further does not appear. Saturday evening some one unknown to her telephoned her that she had better keep her mouth closed in relation to Mrs.Sheedy or she would get into trouble. She was unable to ascertain from whom the threatening message came. The information which the woman had communicated was not of special importance , being simply in reference to Mrs. Sheedy's tendency to visit at house of prostitution prior to marriage to John Sheedy. While this woman is not likely to be called as a witness in the case, still the incident is of interest as smacking of intimidation.

The chief topis of interest in connection with the case is Monday McFarland's confession and the probability of its admission as evidence. the defense claims that it was obtained by rank intimidation and promises of immunity and there is some foundation for this claim as to the story Monday told Mayor Graham and the officers soon after his arrest. The defense expects to show the stemographer's report of that confession that one of Monday's inquisitors brought out the confession by the following argument:
"I think you had better, for your own good, if you want to save your own life to show this thing up. You have told enough already now in this matter to satisfy us who killed him. Now you can turn states evidence , and in all probability they will let you off with your life. That is my opinion. It will undoubtedly be much easier for you , anyhow, to associate the others that are more guilty than yourself in this matter.

The defense claims that when this was said an effort was being systematically in [?] to impress Monday with the belief and fear that a mob was outside clamoring to get at him and that under the [?] of the fear of that mob he told the story reported at the time exclusively in THE JOURNAL.

The state claims to be prepared to deny and disprove the assertion that Monday was led into the confession by any threats or promises of immunity and contends that even were the above claims of the defense true in relation to the confession it would have no bearing upon the second confession made before the coroner's jury which is said to identical with the first story he told.

Another question that arouses considerable speculation os as to whether or no Monday's confession can be used as evidence against Mrs.Sheedy. It is claimed that as the court's in the informant on charging conspiracy have been quashed. Monday's confession will, under the law, weigh against himself, but that remains yet to be seen from the rulings and instructions of the court. Certain is that whatever may be the instructions of the court as to law, if it this confession is ever given to the jury it will be a difficult feat of imagination for them to conclude that the story is true only so far as it relates to the acts of Monday, and that even though it may be true as to Mrs. Sheddy they may not be permitted to consider it as against her.

It may be inferred from the replies of 20 or more members of the several [?] is summoned as jurors, who had read the confession in the newspapers that that confession found credence in the minds of to say the least a great many who read it. There is no reason to doubt that it will have a similar effect upon the twelve jurors to whom it may be submitted.

The general impression appears to be that the confession will go in as part of the testimony. Whether or not the state has many more substantial and convincing corroborative testimony remains to be seen, but it is claimed that it has testimony which it has zealously guarded from the public for fear it might be gotten out of the way are the date of the trial relied around.