Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 291, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 December 1915 — LAWSON TRIAL IS TO BEGIN MONDAY [ARTICLE]

LAWSON TRIAL IS TO BEGIN MONDAY

Special Venire Is Drawn In the Clinton Circuit Court to Try Slayer Of August Scaloln. Frankfort, Ind., Dec. B.—A special venire of forty men in addition to the regular panel of twelve, was ordered drawn yesterday by Judge Combs for the Lawson murder trial, which begins next Monday morning. The case has been given wide publicity and no doubt people in this and adjoining counties are familiar with the facte. It is quite likely the court room will be too small to accommodate the crowds that will attend. Yesterday Attorney C. R. Pollard, of Delphi, who is to defefid Lawson, retained the law firm of Strawn & Robinson to assist. Each side in a murder trial is entitled to twenty' peremptory challenges and there is no limit to the number of challenges for cause. Lawson previously offered to plead guilty to a manslaughter charge, but the state refused to accept it and he is charged with first degree murder. The penalty f6r this crime if convicted is either death or life imprisonment, a matter for the discretion of the jury. It is said the state will ask the death peiuriy for thjs crime if the defendant is convicted. It is a difficult matter to secure a jury, however, owing to the fact that many are opposed to capital punishment. The case will probably require the better, part of next week to try.