Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 304, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 December 1919 — GIRL SHOT SELF, NEW’S DEFENSE. [ARTICLE]

GIRL SHOT SELF, NEW’S DEFENSE.

Los Angeles, Dec. 18.—The third day of the trial of Harry S. New, charged with the murder of Miss Freda Lesser, was devoted to further efforts to select a jury. New went on trial Tuesday. He is alleged to have shot Miss Lesser on July 4 last. He drove up to the police station here the following morning with her body, and subsequently made a written confession, which his counsel has since repudiated. The line of questions adopted in selecting the jurors has indicated, according to attorneys, that the defense will rely on an insanity defense, coupled with the theory that Miss Lesser shot herself, and that New’s low mentality caused him to assume • responsibility. The state will contend that New is sane. The trial continued to attract large crowds today.