Texas mass murder trial to open

New York Times Service

SAN ANTONIO The first trial in America's largest mass-murder case of this century will get underway today at Bexar County courthouse here.

The defendant, Elmer Wayne Henley Jr., 18, is accused of participating in a homosexual torture ring that claimed the lives of 27 teen-aged boys in Houston from 1970 to its discovery last August. The slight,

pockmarked youth, a ninthgrade dropout, is charged with six murders.

A panel of 500 prospective jurors has been called to appear today before Judge Preston H. Dial Jr. for the beginning of the selection process.

The trial was transferred here from Houston, 190 miles to the east, after the parties agreed that Henley could not get a fair trial in his home city because of the enormous news coverage of the crimes.

Henley's team of four court-appointed lawyers is headed by Will Gray, who has said he would seek an insanity plea for his client.

Henley and another defendant to be tried later. David Owen Brooks, 19, made a number of oral and written confessions about their parts in the murders. After extensive pre-trial hearings in Houston, most of Henley's confessions were ruled admissible as evidence. They could be challenged again, however, in the new court.

The defendant faces a maximum of life in prison if convicted. Texas law provides the death penalty only for killing a peace officer, or for murder in connection with a felony such as robbery.