The Arkansas advocate., 1835-09-25
CRIMINAL JUSTICE.

London New Monthly, with a series of mirthful "reminiscences and adventures, un- der the titie of "Gilber Gurney." The last chapter comprised most caustic showing up of the distribution of justice at the sessions of the Old Bailey, from which we take single scene. The caricature IS too broad, but the sketch will rresistibly re- mind the New York reader of many scene which has transpired before high heaven and His Honor the Recorder.
 .New Yorker.
 My friend Buckesbury, who was seat ed in full costume at the left hand of the se- micircular tribune, in box of his own, his wand of office erect at his side, and bou- quet upon the desk before him, beckoned me ln 8 kind and cendescending manner 10 approximate; and l accordingly shifted my position so as to come more immediately under his wing, or rather directly over his head, in which position 1 much reioiced, as he was kind enough to enlighten me upon many points with respect to proceedings in criminal law, with which was by no means before familiar.
 'As 1 entered the court, a case of some importance had just terminated, and the Judge just concluded in summing up, when the Clerk of the Arraiens put the customa- " question to the jury, "How say ye, gen. tlemen-is the prisoner at the bar guilty or not guilty?o Upon which the iurymen laid their heads together, and heard something in whisper from their foreman, who imme- dlately pronounced the agreeable verdict, Mot guilty" The prisoner bowed grace fully-he was 2ocket-and retired.
 "The prompt decision of the jury convin- ced me that 1t must have been a clear case; and l rejoiced at the departure of the now exonerated sufferer.
 "'Thats a regular rascal said the she riff 10 me in whisper; never was case heard on, to be sure-seventeen watches, thirty-two pocket handkerchiefs, four pair of speetaeles and five snaff-boxes, were all found upon his person!'
 "sYet,' said l, the evidence could not have been very strong against him-the iu- " acquitted him after minutes consalta- tion.'
 "'Evldence, Mir. Gurney,' said the she riff, 'how little do you know of the Old Bai- ley!-why, if these London juries were to wait 10 consider evidence, we should never get through the business--the way we do here IS to make zigzag of it.
 Il did not exactly comprehend the term as it was now applied, although Daily had often used 1t in my society with reference to pin and a card universally employed at the interesting game of rouge ct noir; and l therefore made no scruple of expressing my ignorance.
 GD 1,o,, Il sheriff; why, the next prisoner will be found glilty-the last was acquitted; the one after the next will be acquitted, too-it comes al- together like save half. convlct half-that's what we call zigzag; and taking the aggre- gate, 1t comes to the same point, and think justice is done as fair here as in any court in Christendom.'
 "Ths explanation rendered the next pr- soner who made his appearance, an object of considerable interest to me. He was a little dirty boy who stood charged with hav- ing stolen pound of bacon and a peg-top from boy somewhat his junior The young prosecutor produced witness, who, as far as appearances went, might without any great injustice, have taken the place of the prisoner, and who gave his evidence with considerable fuency and fppancy. l His manner attracted the notice of one of the leading barristers of the court, Mr. Flappertrap, who, in cross-examning him, inquired whether he knew the nature of an oath?
 "'Yes, do,' said the boy.
 "'Explan it. said Flappertrap.
 "'You he d-d,' replied the lad, that's hoath, arn't itl'
 "'What does he say2' said inc Judge; who, as then discovered, was as deaf as post.
 "'He says, You be d-d, my Lord said Flappertrap. who appeared particularly glad of the opportunity to borrow phrase which he might use for the occasion.
 "'What does he mean by that!' said the Judge.
 "sThat is the way, my Lord, in which he exhibits his knowledge of the nature of an oath.''
 "'Pah! pahl' said the Judgei Boy dye hear me2'
 "'Yes,' said the boy, I hears
 "sHave you ever been to school!'
 "sYes,' said the boy, 'in St. Giles parish for three years
 "sDo you know your catechism2'
 "The boy muttered something whieh was not audible to the Court generally, and which was utterly lost upon the Judge per- sonaly.
 ".What does he say nowl' said his Lord chin