People v. Elia

This is a motion made by the district attorney for the trial of the defendants by a special jury, pursuant to the provisions of section 749-aa of the Judiciary Law. The defendants are named in the indictment, of whom eight have been apprehended. They are charged in the indictment with conspiracy and extortion. The motion for a special panel is opposed by the attorneys representing four of the eight defendants.

This is one of the so-called racket cases in which the said defendants are charged with conspiring to commit the crime of extortion, in that they are alleged to have unlawfully,…