235

WEEKLY NEBRASKA STATE JOURNAL FRIDAY MAY 1891 11

TWELVE GOOD MEN AND TRUE

----------------------------------------------

THE JURY SECURED IN THE
SHEEDY CASE.

---------------------------------------------

Juror Norton Discovered to Have
Talked Himself Into a Bad
Predicament.

-------------------------------------------

He Saw $500 in the Position of Juror--
Opening Statements of What the Res-
pective Attorneys Anticipate
Their Ability to Prove.

------------------------------------------

There were few spectators present Monterday morning when court opened in the Sheedy murder case. Mrs. Sheedy had come in escorted only by Mr. Biggerstaff, the wealthy old uncle from Boise City, and her sister, Mrs. Morgan, the other sisters, Mrs. Dean and Mrs. Baker, being a trifle late in arriving at the court house. Monday McFarland found the escort of Jailor Langdon good enough for him.

Mrs. Sheedy was somewhat more nervous than at any previous time since the trial, and Monday preserved his usual sombre gravity throughout.

The first hour of work in completing the panel of jurors was dull enough, but at the end of that time the lively scenes foreshadowed in THE JOURNAL of Sunday morning began to dawn in the proceedings, rather the promise thereof after over an hour of consultations among all of the attorneys, during which time the court and attendants were idle and the spectators were perplexed and impatient, the first extra sensational feature of the trial was sprung in the sworn charges preferred against Juror A. B. Norton of Davey, which led to his subsequent release from the panel and his arrest. From that time on the proceedings were more interesting, until at 4:15 the opening statements of counsel, outlining their respective cases, were completed and the jury cautioned to refrain from discussions of the case and the bailiffs cautioned to permit them to read no local papers.

The jury to whom the case will be finally submitted comprises James Van Campin of Little Salt precinct, J. C. Jensen of Lincoln and George Albrecht of Highland, who were members of the first panel of 150; Jacob Croy and Henry L. Willis of Lincoln, who were from the second 150 drawn; Ed Young and John Robertson of Panama., C. S. Cadwaller of Little Salt, Luther Batten of Oak, James Johnson of Grant and Thomas Riley of Buda, all members of the third panel.

To secure this jury 364 men have passed through the judicial sweat box on the revolving chair usually reserved for the use of witnesses, out of 486 summoned on the regular and three special panels.

Juror Norton Gets Aired.

"The state's last challenge," called Judge Field.

Then there was a mysterious movement among the attorneys for the state. After vainly endeavoring to conduct a secret conference around the attoryneys' table they retired to the private office of Judge Field to confer. "Pretty soon Mr. Snell came out, secured his hat and went away, presumably to make some investigation or inquiry.

The presumption was correct and over an hour was allowed to flit by into oblivion ere there was a return into court by the attorneys. In the secret conferences held in the court's private office all of the attorneys participated at times. The promised sensational revelation came with refreshing strength when it developed in a short time that the discussion was over Juror A. B. Norton. The state was fortified with a number of affidavits to prove that Norton, prior to the beginning of the trial, had expressed an opinion. In fact he had launched upon the public a number of opinions. One of them was to the effect that Mrs. Sheedy was guilty and deserved to be hung. Another was that both were guilty, while to still another he had said that "he would hang the d--d nigger and let the woman go free." These affidavits were kept among the attorneys for some time, but it was apparent that a storm was brewing in the little room where the conference was being held. The state wanted the juror removed and didn't wish to exercise its sole remaining challenge in that direction. The defense insisted that the state exercised its challenge for his removal.

The jury was removed from the court at the request of counsel and Mr. Lambertson entered the following motion:

"We move to exclude the juror, A. B. Norton of Davey, for the reason that he has formed and expressed an opinion touching the guilt or innocence of the accused--both of them--at numerous times, which fact was not disclosed in his examination in the voir dire. And notwithstanding the fact that he swore on that exrmination that he had not formed or expressed any opinion, that he had not read the newspaper account except stray sketches; that he had not read what purported to be the confession nor the testimony taken either at the preliminary hearing or before the coroner's jury, and in support of that motion I have six affidavits.

These affidavits were then read by the speaker and were certainly of a startling nature, two of them being as follows:

"G. A. Sawyey, being first duly sworn on oath says that he is a resident and citisen of Rock Creek precinct and has been since 1887; that he has known one A. B. Norton, who is now on the panel of jurors, in the above entitled case, for three years or more; that on or about the 1st day of May, 1891, said Norton had a conversation with this affiant when they were on their way home from the city of Lincoln; that at said time said Norton had been drawn and served as one of the special panel from which a jury in said cause was to be chosen; that said Norton said he was agoing to serve on said jury, if possible; that a man in the city of Lincoln had told him that there was $500 in it, and that he would hold the jury until he got money for his verdict; that the Sheedy's were rich and that if they could convict Mrs. Sheedy they would get the money, and that he was agoing to have a part of it."

"R. B. Crawford, being first duly sworn, says that he has lived in the twon of Davey about two years and in the county since 1871, excepting three years; that he is acquainted with one A. B. Norton, who is now one of the panel of eleven chosen in the above entitled case, and has known him for about eighteen months; that the same day that said Norton got his summons to appear as a juror in said cause he was at the blacksmith shop of this affiant in the twon of Davey; that said Norton told this affiant at said time and place that if he could get to serve on the Sheedy jury he would make some money out of it; that this affiant supposed from what Norton said and the manner of his saying it, that he would take money for his verdict from either side that would pay him for it."

WEEKLY NEBRASKA STATE JOURNAL FRIDAY MAY 1891 11

TWELVE GOOD MEN AND TRUE

----------------------------------------------

THE JURY SECURED IN THE
SHEEDY CASE.

---------------------------------------------

Juror Norton Discovered to Have
Talked Himself Into a Bad
Predicament.

-------------------------------------------

He Saw $500 in the Position of Juror--
Opening Statements of What the Res-
pective Attorneys Anticipate
Their Ability to Prove.

------------------------------------------

There were few spectators present Monterday morning when court opened in the Sheedy murder case. Mrs. Sheedy had come in escorted only by Mr. Biggerstaff, the wealthy old uncle from Boise City, and her sister, Mrs. Morgan, the other sisters, Mrs. Dean and Mrs. Baker, being a trifle late in arriving at the court house. Monday McFarland found the escort of Jailor Langdon good enough for him.

Mrs. Sheedy was somewhat more nervous than at any previous time since the trial, and Monday preserved his usual sombre gravity throughout.

The first hour of work in completing the panel of jurors was dull enough, but at the end of that time the lively scenes foreshadowed in THE JOURNAL of Sunday morning began to dawn in the proceedings, rather the promise thereof after over an hour of consultations among all of the attorneys, during which time the court and attendants were idle and the spectators were perplexed and impatient, the first extra sensational feature of the trial was sprung in the sworn charges preferred against Juror A. B. Norton of Davey, which led to his subsequent release from the panel and his arrest. From that time on the proceedings were more interesting, until at 4:15 the opening statements of counsel, outlining their respective cases, were completed and the jury cautioned to refrain from discussions of the case and the bailiffs cautioned to permit them to read no local papers.

The jury to whom the case will be finally submitted comprises James Van Campin of Little Salt precinct, J. C. Jensen of Lincoln and George Albrecht of Highland, who were members of the first panel of 150; Jacob Croy and Henry L. Willis of Lincoln, who were from the second 150 drawn; Ed Young and John Robertson of Panama., C. S. Cadwaller of Little Salt, Luther Batten of Oak, James Johnson of Grant and Thomas Riley of Buda, all members of the third panel.

To secure this jury 364 men have passed through the judicial sweat box on the revolving chair usually reserved for the use of witnesses, out of 486 summoned on the regular and three special panels.

Juror Norton Gets Aired.

"The state's last challenge," called Judge Field.

Then there was a mysterious movement among the attorneys for the state. After vainly endeavoring to conduct a secret conference around the attoryneys' table they retired to the private office of Judge Field to confer. "Pretty soon Mr. Snell came out, secured his hat and went away, presumably to make some investigation or inquiry.

The presumption was correct and over an hour was allowed to flit by into oblivion ere there was a return into court by the attorneys. In the secret conferences held in the court's private office all of the attorneys participated at times. The promised sensational revelation came with refreshing strength when it developed in a short time that the discussion was over Juror A. B. Norton. The state was fortified with a number of affidavits to prove that Norton, prior to the beginning of the trial, had expressed an opinion. In fact he had launched upon the public a number of opinions. One of them was to the effect that Mrs. Sheedy was guilty and deserved to be hung. Another was that both were guilty, while to still another he had said that "he would hang the d--d nigger and let the woman go free." These affidavits were kept among the attorneys for some time, but it was apparent that a storm was brewing in the little room where the conference was being held. The state wanted the juror removed and didn't wish to exercise its sole remaining challenge in that direction. The defense insisted that the state exercised its challenge for his removal.

The jury was removed from the court at the request of counsel and Mr. Lambertson entered the following motion:

"We move to exclude the juror, A. B. Norton of Davey, for the reason that he has formed and expressed an opinion touching the guilt or innocence of the accused--both of them--at numerous times, which fact was not disclosed in his examination in the voir dire. And notwithstanding the fact that he swore on that exrmination that he had not formed or expressed any opinion, that he had not read the newspaper account except stray sketches; that he had not read what purported to be the confession nor the testimony taken either at the preliminary hearing or before the coroner's jury, and in support of that motion I have six affidavits.

These affidavits were then read by the speaker and were certainly of a startling nature, two of them being as follows:

"G. A. Sawyey, being first duly sworn on oath says that he is a resident and citisen of Rock Creek precinct and has been since 1887; that he has known one A. B. Norton, who is now on the panel of jurors, in the above entitled case, for three years or more; that on or about the 1st day of May, 1891, said Norton had a conversation with this affiant when they were on their way home from the city of Lincoln; that at said time said Norton had been drawn and served as one of the special panel from which a jury in said cause was to be chosen; that said Norton said he was agoing to serve on said jury, if possible; that a man in the city of Lincoln had told him that there was $500 in it, and that he would hold the jury until he got money for his verdict; that the Sheedy's were rich and that if they could convict Mrs. Sheedy they would get the money, and that he was agoing to have a part of it."

"R. B. Crawford, being first duly sworn, says that he has lived in the twon of Davey about two years and in the county since 1871, excepting three years; that he is acquainted with one A. B. Norton, who is now one of the panel of eleven chosen in the above entitled case, and has known him for about eighteen months; that the same day that said Norton got his summons to appear as a juror in said cause he was at the blacksmith shop of this affiant in the twon of Davey; that said Norton told this affiant at said time and place that if he could get to serve on the Sheedy jury he would make some money out of it; that this affiant supposed from what Norton said and the manner of his saying it, that he would take money for his verdict from either side that would pay him for it."