Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-06-30


contend that there were never any means so per-
fectly well fitted to that end as the assembling
twelve men of various habits-Of different de-
grees of exper;ence-of different kinds OF teeiinS
of different forms of understanding, and bring
ing them all to bear upon the same case; and make
their minds, however differently constituted, weigh
the nature Of the evidence brought before them
II may seem little paradoxical, but 1t is true,
that the making their concurrence compulsory
has always appeared to me to be one OF not the
least important of the peculiar advantages OF this
method Of trial. If the question to be decided by
iury,was once allowed to majority, then the re.
suit would be, that those who were anxious to get
through the business would commence disturbing
the deliberations of the others by just some such
cries of Question" as we sometimes hear impa-
tiently urged by more polished and intellectual
assemblies, a laugh and there would be no pos
sibiIity of any question being thoroughly and fair.
" discussed. 1t might seem paradoxical, but l
repeat that this kind of compulsory unanimity
has always appeared to me to be very great
advantage | have said before that would give
this tribunal power over all civil actions under
one hundred pounds; and among these l would
include actions for assault, for false imprisonment
and all cases of injury to property: and trust,
il the plan propose be not carried into full et-
feet at once, that at all events shall have the
satisfaction of seeing an experiment take place in
some parts of the country; and l can have no
doubt that the effect will then be such as to lead
10 its universal adoption. Abiding to the trial
BY jr-v, must say, however that have found
il extremely difficult to determine what cases
should or should not be left for trial by jury; not
for want Of time-for have lcpy and frequently
deliberated upon the subject but confess
am unable to specify what cases should or should
not be tried BY Jury.
-zsesaaae
Dsstit,tion.- illustration of the tempta-
tons to CRIME, to which restitution too often
leads. was exhibited in tie police Office yester-
dav. 4 complaint was lodged there BY aperson
who had lost watch, against another, who he
supposed had stolen it. A description OF the
watch was given, and MIR. Abrams, the pawn
broker. discovered BY the marks that 1t had been
pledged with him: he accompanied an officer tor
the purpose of ascertaining whether the accused
was the person who pledged 1t. On arriving at
the dwelling of the accused, cellar IN Water
street, they witnessed a scene which could scarce
" be believed to exist in city like this.-
stretched on the floor with nought to protect them
from its damp, save coarse piece OF canvas lay
the accused and his wife, and at short distance.
stretched also OH the floor, Law their dead child!
The room was without any thing that could be
called furniture: the cellar noisome; every thing
around bore evidence of utter wretchedness. II
appeared that the child died on Wednesday, and
on the night of that day, the person who lost the
watch went to sit in BY the corpse as neighbor;
he having got asleep during the night, the wretch
ed parent, driven to desperation under the cir.
cumstances in which he was situated. puroined
the watch, and pledged it for trlAing sum of mo-
uey. The Police Officer sent to the Alms-house
Commissioners to have the necessary arrange
ments made for the interment of the corpse. and
then conducted the parents to the police Office.
The mother was permitted to go, and the father
committed to prison, to answer to the charge.
~ Y. Corr. and Eng.