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ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE TRIAL.
The Criminal Sittings of the Victorian
Supreme Court will be opened (says the Argus)
before Mr. Justice Hodges on Friday, the 22nd
inst., and the following the 25th inst.,
has been fixed for the trial of Frederick Bayley
Deeming, alias Albert Williams, for the murder
of his wife, Emily Williams. The accommo-
dation of the courthouse is very limited, only
100 seats being available in the gallery for
spectators. It has been decided to follow the
custom that prevails in England when any
cause cèlébre comes on for hearing, and to
admit no more sightseers but those
to whom permits have been issued.
The morbid curiosity excited by the case of
Williams is shown by the fact that already
some 400 applications have been received for
permits, or four times the seating capacity of
the gallery. The body of the Criminal Court
is reserved for professional men engaged in the
trial, some 60 witnesses, a panel of 60 jurors,
and 40 reporters. It does not appear to be
generally known that the prisoner, as in all
capital cases, will have the privilege of chal-
lenging 20 jurors. Ordinarily accused persons
are only allowed to challenge 15. It is pro-
bable that as soon as the prisoner is arraigned
an application will be made for a postpone-
ment in order that further opportunities may
be afforded for testing his mental condition.
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