The Empire County argus., 1854-05-27
A HUNG JURY
BY SOL. SMITH.

Who, in St. Louis, does not know Noah Ridgely
Who, in St. Louis, has not known him for long
time--not long enough not to know anybody else
but a long, long time--years Even here in
New Orleans, Noah is tolerably well known and at
the river towns intermediate there few "felers
who are on terms of speaking acquaintance with
him. In fact, wherever the steamer 'Hannibal
has made landing-(and where is the landing
she has not made stop at D-Noah has been seen
and known at some time or other. But in st. Lou
is--well, there's no use writing about how we'll he
is known there And wherever known Noah is a
favorite-I might say great favorite. He has been
clerk of the aforesaid HANNIBAL" for, don't know
how many years-and the "Hannbal' continues to
performe voyages between New Orleans and ST.
Louis, with her single but powerful engine (out of
the old St. Louis--Capt. Swans St. Lous,) and
seems as good as new; and Noah comes around
with his freight bills with astonishing regularity
and he appears better than new!
But to my story In St. Louis we all know the
difficulty of procuring jurors to try cases before JUS
tices Of the peace-t being almost next to an inn
possibility to get together twelve citizens, good
men and true" who are willing to sit for two or
three hours in Justices office, which is never by
any accident, larger than a moderate sized band
box, surrounded by promiscuOus crowd which al
ways gathers filing up room, doors, and windows,
whenever q Jury trial. is to come oH-especally
if lawyers are imployed in it.
1t so happened, 'once upon time" that two
merchants had little misunderstanding, which
resulted in their 'going to law" before Justice
Walsh. The amount in dispute mere trife
but each was obstinate and would not give way
iot-so to law they went To make matters worse,
each must have lawyer to help him on, and one
of the lawyers, determined to make much out of
the case as lie could, asserted the constitutional
right of his client, and demanded jury. A renire
tacias was accordingly issued and Constable BuSby
started off to execute his writ.
At the expiration Of about an hour, during which
the court attorneys and spectators waited with ex-
emplary patience. Busby returned, followed by one
solitary indiuidatal carrying hugh lot of freight
bills in one hand, and u half-smoked cigar in the
other--it was Noah.
"Have you summoned the jury, Mr.. Constable q
inquired the justice q
Eyes, sir,'' replied Busby, throwing down upon
the table his writ with the names ofwelve citizens
inscribed thereon, 81 have summoned them, but
they won't come"
"Wont come, won't come y remarked the JUS
tice "well see about that. Clerk write out attach
ments for these gentlemen. How many are there
who refuse to obey the order of the court :"
"Eleven your honor" answered the sweating con-
stable this is the only of the lot, (ponng tc
our friend Noah) have been able to scare up and
he don't seem much disposed to serve-says he in
tends to plead has privttege"
''What privilege pray, Mr. Ridgely, have you tc
plead What valid reason can you give the court
why you should not serve on this jury ?" asked the
justice.
l'I believe" replied Noah, stretching himself ur
to his full hight, and taking the cigar out of his
mouth which he had been industriously smoking
since he entered the ofice--"l believe a fireman is
exempt from jury duty 2"
Certainly, certainly replied the justice. "But
was not aware you belonged to either of the en-
gine companies. May ask, MIR Ridgely which
engine you run with %
(Which engine The old St. Louis! You are
aware perhaps Mr. Justice, that the old St. Louis
had two engines one of them constitutes at this
time the motive power of the Hannibal, and that is
the engine run with--and when hard pushed fo1
hands, / have upon occasion, acted as fireman.
therefore, | suppose I'm excused from Jury duty"
'Not so fast, my friend interposed the justice
4'this will not excuse you-"
'No!" exclaimed Noah, with apparent surprise
4then," he continued taking seat on the jury
bench, "bring on your case, since am over-ruled
and let us get through with it as soon we can
for I'll be hanged if stop long"
Busby at this juncture retured from another I'M
successful foray through the neighboring streets
and alleys.
Cant scare up single man," he reported, sit
ting down and wiping the perspiration from his
face with cotton pocket handkerchief which he
carried in his hat.
"What is to be done 2" inquired the lawyers.
81 am sure don't know" answered Justice Walsh
sunless you choose to take Mr.. Ridgely here, and
let him decide your case"
As the laws of Missouri permit parties by mutual
consent to lake 'any number less than twelve" IN
civil cases. the lawyers finding there was no chance
of soaring up any more jurors, agreed to take
Noah as the jss,B and after few modest objections
on his part, he was sworn in, and assigned seat
in the centre of the jury bench.