1966-09-01

Clifford Attorneys pick eight jurors

DENTON--Eight jurors have been selected during two and one-half days of questioning in the murder trial of William Bond Clifford, 33-year-old farmer, rancher from Canyon,

Clifford is accused of the murder of his wile, Shirley, on Good Friday of this year in a La Fran apartment while three of their four children looked on. Selection of the eighth juror. Clifford Jones, a welder at a local fectory, came at 3:l5 p.m. Wednesday.

Two jurors were chosen Wednesday morning. Two were named Tuesday and three were selected Monday. Named Wednesday were W.F. Williams a Denton electrical contractor and Roger Tidwell, a Denton County truck driver.

As of noon Wednesday, the defense had used three peremptory challenges and the prosecution had used one. Defense and prosecution are allowed 15 challenges when determining prospective jurors.

The case is being heard in the l6th District Court of Judge W.C. Boyd, Jr. It was moved on a change it venue from the 47th District Court in Randall County.

George Dowlen, Randall County District Attorney, estimated the state's testimony will take one and one half days. Defense attorneys Shufford Farmer of Waco and Jack Gray of Denton have not indicated how long defense testimony will take, but have indicated that 25 witnesses have been subpoenaed by the defense.

...Prosecution attorneys indicated they would call Clifford's 11 and 9 year old boys to testify in the trial. The first day's questioning of jurors Monday was only three persons selected for the jury.