The Arkansas banner., 1845-04-16
From He N !. Spiral ofhc Times
 \ TESIY HIR0R


 From Me ~ !. Spi7i ofthe Times.
 ATESTY JUROR.
 In trials for capital offences, it is usual for the Clerk of the Court to propound to each juror as he is called, and before he is empan- nelled, the following questions
 s'llaNe you formed or expressed an opin- ion concerning the guilt or innocence of the accused;"
 ''Do you cherish any conscientious scru- pies with regard to the inniction of capital punlshmcnEo
 "Are you of kin to pris onerin
 \ trial of mGslcr in the first degree, oi as a sporting man would term it, race for life and death, came off a short time since, with in less than one hundred miles from eiviliza- ton, when juror, who had never served in that honorable capacity before, man of light complexion and considerable spunk-vain wilhal, and with dash of what answers to Addlson's defination of svicious modesty;n was the very first man called to decide upon the issue of life or death
 The accused was buck negro, shining black, with hair as stiff and course as the teeth of carding machine.
 Clerk.--Prlsoner, look upon the juror juror, look upon the prisoner Do you ehal- lenge?
 Counsel for prisoner-Not perpemtori- ly.
 Clerk.-llave you formed or expressed an opinion with regard to the guilt or innocence of the accused;
 Juror,--Why, what question! How should F
 lClerk repeats the question.
 luror-Why never saw him before.
 Clerk.-Answer the question--yes or no. Juor-No O sr-f-ee
 Comt.-Ho sport here; it is too serious a matter
 Clerk,-IIave you any cons, ientious scru- pies?
 1uror.-i have few left. Clerk.-l mean about nfoting capital pun ishment for crime;
 juror.-No one whatever do assure you.
 This emphatic declaration brought the pris- oner's counsel to his feet, who was going to argue that the manner in which the jurors last answer was given was good challenge for cause, but he was stopped by the Court. Clerk.-Are you akin to the prisoner'
 Juror,-Whatl
 Clerk repeats the question, HAre you akin 10 the prisoner p
 .Iuror--Who do you take me for!
 Clerk.--Are you akin to the prisoner?
 Juror-Y our face is blacker on Sundays than mine is on week days, and your hair is wool, Are yon akin to the prisoner?
 Clerk.-Answer the question,
 Juror.-Akin to the devil My kin are re. specablc peopIel
 Clerk, growing lacetious. Are from Ire land:
 .Iuror.-My father is from that same
 Clerk.-Are you naturalzed citizens;
 Juror.-Y es, before was born.
 Cerk.--Gid your father pay hemp tax :
 Juror.--IIe paid poll and de-capilaton tax.
 Clerk.-Thenhemust have been in France. Did Doctor GullIotnc prescribe for him!
 Juror.-Doctor Bowie will prescribe for you, if you don't look sharp
 Here the cloudy brow of the Court indca- ted that the conference should be cut short, aud the prisoners counsel boding no good from the jurors contemptuons opinion of his client, challenged the juror for cause, name ". an opinion expressed
 Juror coG.nues.--What, l am insulted by that blackguard Clerk, and now one of his hired bulles has challenged me; no, l'll fight this clerk first, and his bully aflerwards--no fighting by proxy; none.
 Court to Juror,-Sir, you are challenged !; you may retire.
 Juror-I never turned back on friend or foe; I'll not retire.
 Court.--Sir, you are committed for twen- ty-four hours for contempt of Court; Sheriff, take him into custody.
 Here the Sheriff, who was aresoluie, good natured man, and his prisoner walked of arm in arm.
 Jnror-Why, Sheriff, voted for yeu = What are you about
 Sherif.-O, nothing; you can eat with me, and sleep in my room
 .Juror.-Y ou are both savage and kind, Mr Sheriff refused to vote for your adversary who was running for second term, because when he was sheriff he never summoned me as a juror; thought he slighted me. l am the first juror called since you were elected and am in Jail D-n you. the Court, the Clerk, his bully, and every body else;' (which competitions mode of anathema is a perfect labor saving machine, when compared | with thu. .awfully lengthy and minute curse of Dr. Slop, and might enable those persons who arefond ofexpletives to economlse tune and worlds Why 1 am going to be marrled Tonight, and have fifteen miles to go!
 Sherff.--No wonder you are testy, Dnt you. had better stay twenty four hours wllll me than be lockedup every night fora week with the jury in that murder case
 Tine Sheriff explained matters to the Court and fhe commitment was commuted from twenty-four hours, 10 one hours custody Ia .Ttsis thought by some that Henry Clay