Salt Lake Telegram | 1922-05-01 | Page 9 | Masonic Trial Draws Large Crowd

MASONIC TRIAL; DRAWS LARGE I CROWD Selecting of Jury to Hear Charges Is Now Under Way ' The trial of ths United States vs. Matthsw McBain Thomson, Thomas Perrott and Dominic Bergera, Indicted on charges of securing membedahlpa In alleged fraudulent Masonle orders, began this morning In ths United States district court before Judge Martin Mar-tin J. Wade of the southern district of Iowa, presiding In ths absencs of Judge Tillman D. Johnson. The morning session was devoted entirely to the proceedings In connec- tlon with the selection of a jury and It Is expected that at leaat today and tomorrow will bs taken up In the final eelectlon of the twelve men who are to try the case. Several prospective lury-men lury-men were excuaed by Judge Wade after he had declared their ev.-ii I valid. During the afternoon session other men on ths venire were exam-J lned. Klghty-one veniremen In nil were available at ths tlms of Impaneling Impanel-ing tha Jury. Tha trial la considered as one of the most Important and Interesting In ths history of Masonry, Involving, as II does, questions In regard to the founding found-ing of ths parent order and tha bona fldeneea of ths orders for which ths defendants are alleged to have solicited members. Wltnseses havs been summoned sum-moned from all over the United States and some Masonlo officers from Scotland. Scot-land. Ths cass will be handled for the government gov-ernment by United Slates Attorney Charles M. Morrla and John Jenson of Salt Laks, ths latter-having been especially espe-cially employed to assist Mr. Morrla Isaao Blair Bvans, former United States attorney, who prepared the case for the grand Jury, may alio assist In ths government's presentation of the ease. M. G. Price, poatofflro Inspector of St. Louis, Mo.,-who directed the Investigation In-vestigation that resulted In ths arrest and Indictment of the defendants, will be one of the principal government witnesses. He worked on the ease for six years. A fourth defendant in the cass Is ! Robert Jamleson, a resident of Scotland. Scot-land. Ha has not been apprehended. The defendants on trial will lie represented repre-sented by Stanley Price and M. E. Wilson. Wil-son. The courtroom wae filled with spectators and prospective Jurymen this morning when the case opened. It Is being heard In the south federal courtroom, ths case of Attorneys Samuel Sam-uel A. King and Rusel O. Schulder against Charlee Chaplin, motion picture pic-ture comedian, having been transferred to ths north courtroom.