252

MONDAY'S YARN.

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Given to the Jury in the Sheedy Murder Case.

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WAS HE MOVED BY HOPE OR FEAR?

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McFarland's Confesson Goes in as Evidence

---The Defense Hold It Was Obtained by Threats and Promises---The Jury Will Have to Decide that Point--The Story of the Murder as Unfolded in Court.

AFTER seven days of laborious work and the examination of 470 persons a jury of twelve men, good and true, was secured Monday afternoon to try the defendants Mrs. Mary Sheedy and Monday McFarland for the murder of John Sheedy on Sunday evening, January 11, last. Of the first special panel but three jurors were selected; one from the second and eight from the third. The following are the names of the jurors sworn to well and truly try the case and true verdict return: James VanCampin, Little Salt; Geo. Albrecht, Highland; J. C. Jansen, Lincoln; Jacob Corey, Seventh ward; Albert Ward, Waverly; Henry L. Willis, 926 K street; Ed Young, Panama; John Robertson, Panama; C. S. Cadwallder, Little Salt; Luther Batten, Oak; James Johnson, Grant; Thomas Riley, Buda.

From a casual glance one would not conclude that this jury was composed of the leading and most influential citizens of the county. But what can be expected from the present system of selecting a jury. Men must be found who have not read anything about the case and who have not formed or expressed any opinion as to the guilt or innocence of the accused. Such persons are not expected to be among the most intelligent, and considering everything, it is possible, therefore, that the jury in this case is about intelligent as could be secured.

A Juror Arrested.

Monday forenoon there was several hurried consultations among the attorneys on both sides, and the spectators generally wondered what was in the wind. At the noon adjournment twelve men went out, and when they came back there were but eleven. A. B. Norton, one of the twelve, a carpenter residing at Davy, was under arrest, charged with prejury. On his examination he had sworn that he had not formed or expressed any opinion concerning the case, and was therefore passed by both sides for cause. Affidavits were produced from his neighbors exactly to the contrary.

G. A. Sawyey testified that on May 1, Norton had a conversation with him when they were on their way to Lincoln; that at that time Norton had been drawn and subpoenied as a juror in this case: that he said he was going to serve if possible; that a man in Lincoln had told him that there was $500 in it, and that he would hold the jury until he got his money; that the Sheedy's were rich and that if they could convict Mrs. Sheedy they would get the money sure, and he was going to have a part of it.

R. B. Crawford, a blacksmith, said that the very day Norton was summoned as a juror he came to his shop and said that if he could get to serve on the jury he would make some money out of it.

Affidavits to the same effect were read from W.H. Tarball, Patrick McGill, James O'Biden and Phillip Opp, all business men of Davy, one of whom had heard him say, "Oh hell, the woman will get clear and the nigger will hang. The damned nigger is guilty and ought to hang."

Some little parleying took place among the attorneys over the right of the defendants to another peremptory challenge, but was finally settled by giving them that right.

County Attorney Snell, under instructions from Judge Field, acted promptly, and filed an information in Justice Cochran's court, charging Norton with perjury. Norton was arrested and arraigned in court and pleaded not guilty. He is represented by R. J. Greene. A continuance was secured until May 25, his bail was fixed at $500 and his bond was signed by Messrs. J. H. McMurtry and J. R. Webster.