The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-01-16 00:00:00

A REFRACTORY JURYMAN.

MIDDLESEX GENERAL SESSION.
On Tuesday, atter the petit jury had been sworn, and the
first prisoner given them in charge, a juror, named Henry
Wilson, residing in James-street, Old-street-road, addressing
the chairman, said Sir, I should like to be informed who is
to remunerate me for my loss of time and trouble in attending
here""

The Chairman (to the clerk of the indictments.)—Go on with
the case.

Wilson.—Go on! But I wont go on till lam informed who
is to pay me for my loss of time.
The Chairman.—You are summoned here, sir, to discharge
a highly important public duty, and all who attend here for that
purpose do so without being paid for their -public services; all
the gentlemen who are now with me on the bench attend here
without being paid fee or reward.

Wilson.—l es; they seek the situation for honour's sake.
The Chairman.—lt is, I believe, universally admitred that
the trial by jury is one of the most beautiful parts of our ex-
cellent constitution, and it is part of that constitution that in
all criminal cases the juries shall not be paid for their services,
and sorry indeed should I be that any alteration in the law in
that respect should take place; for if in criminal cases juries
were to be paid for their attendance, persons would become
candidates for the situations, instead of the duties of jurymen
being diccharged by independent men
Wilson.—Oh! that's all very well; but other public servants
are paid, and well paid too for doing little or nothing ; and I,
therefore, on principle, object to being kept here all day with-
out being paid for my time or trouble.
The Chairman.-1 must not have any more of these observa.
Lions. Let the case proceed. _

The trial, which was for an assault of a very trifling descrip-
tion upon a sheriff's officer, proceeded.
The Chairman summed up the evidence.
After which a short consultation took place amongst the jury.
At length

The Foreman said, " That juryman that had just now ad-
dressed the court says he will nut agree to any verdict until he
is paid for his. services,"
The Chairman.—Very well, sir: I can also tell -you and your
brother jurymen that you will all be locked up ufitil you agree
to a verdict. Do you know, sir, the situation in which you
stand. You have taken a solemn oath on the Gospel well and
truly to try the prisoner at the bar, and having heard the evi-
dence in this case, you must give your verdict. You have sworn
to decide on the case.

Wilson.—Yes, I did swear I would decide on the case, but
I did not swear what time I would take to do so.
The Chairman.—Let an officer attend the jury to their room,
and let them be locked up without fire or candle until they can
agree upon a verdict.
Several of the jury said it was very hard that they should be
locked up on the account of one of their body being so obstinate.
The Chairrnan.—l cannot help it. lam exceedingly sorry
for il. 1 shall take care that that individual shall not profit
from it.

Wilson.—Can you show that I am acting illegally, that's all ?
Tell me where the law is that says how long a jury is to consider
their verdict.

A Juryinan.—What is it you require?
Wilson.—Nothing of you. I am contesting a great public
principle, and am rejoiced at the occasion of doing so. If one
sort of public service is paid fur, why tint another? lam here
told that I am summoned here to discharge a public duty, and,
then, 'Ally not the public pay me? Let the chairman show me
that I am acting illegally if he can.
The Chairman.-1 can truly state that I never witnessed such
a scene in a court of justice before, and I hope I may never
witness its repetition. Officer, remove the jury at once, for I
cannot suffer such disgraceful proceedings in this court for one
moment longer.
A Juryrnan.—Surely, sir, you will not lock us all up !
Wilson.—No, that he won't for I won't leave this box.
A Juryman.—What do you charge for your attendance, for
I mvself will pay you whatever you require ?
Wilson.— I tell you again I want nothing of you. lam
mer?.ly doing a great public duty,
Several of the jurymen exclaimed, " Oh, let's club together
and pay him.
Wilson.—You have not shown me that I am acting illegally,
and until von do so I will not leave this box.

The Ch;iirman.—l tell you you are acting both illegally and
distiraueluily.
Alter some further conversation, the obstinate juryman left
the box quietly along with the other jurymen.
In uls a quarter of an hour the jury returned, when the
foremau stated that they had all agreeu to return a verdict of
" Guilty."

nut PICKWICK PAPERS.—It is stated that the publishers of
the Pickwick Papers, atier pa)ing all expences, have cleared
£12,500. The author received £3,000 tor the copyright.