Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 260, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 October 1913 — OVERRULES MOTION FOR CONTINUANCE [ARTICLE]

OVERRULES MOTION FOR CONTINUANCE

Trial of James Willis for Alleged Rape Now in Progress at Kent-land-Night Session Probable. Special to Republican. KENTLAND, IND, Oct. 31,-The trial of James Willis, of Rensselaer, for alleged attempted rape on person of the little 15-year-old Thompson girl, is now in progress here and the fate of the defendant will probably be known tomorrow. The case is being tried before Special Judge Elmore Barce, of Fowlew. The defense is represented by W. H. Parkinson and J. A. Dunlap, of Rensselaer, and Judge William Darroch, of Kentland. The state is represented by Prosecuting Attorney Fred Longwell, of Brook, Assistant Attorney Frank Davis, of Brook, and Moses Leopold and C. Arthur Tuteur, of Rensselaer. Upon the opening of the case this morning, Judge Darroch, for the defense, made a motion for continuance, alleging that there were several witnesses in Wisconsin, the former home of the girl, who would testify that the girl is over the age of consent, but that the defense had not had time to get the depositions of these witnesses. The motion was promptly overruled by the court and the work of securing a jury was proceeded with. At 1:30 this afternoon the jury had been secured and the hearing of the evidence was begun. The jury is composed of the following citizens of Newton county and is considered an especially good jury: Chas. Hasslett, retired merchant, of Kentland. Arthur Harrington, farmer, •Goodland. - : : Wm. Kline, farmer, Washington township. Eugene Steel, farmer, Kentland. Chas. Humston, druggist, Goodland. T. P. Hansen, farmer, Lake township. Arthur Stilton, butcher, Kentland. J. U. Wildason, retired farmer, of Kentland. Wilson LeMaster, farmer, Goodland. Frank Herath, farmer, Brook. E. M. Lyons, farmer, Brook. Daniel Zumba uni, laborer, Kentland. On motion of the prosecution all witnesses are excluded from the court room, and are not allowed to hear the evidence. The court room is crowded with interested spectators. It is probable that a night session will be held today and that the ease will go to the jury some time tomorrow. ’