The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1859-05-13
A word about vanderburgh Juri.


A word about vanderburgh Juries.
We want to call the attention Of our
readers, especially those of them who are
residents of the city, to some Of the work
ings of the jury system in our county. We
had occasion frequently to be in the Court
room during the sittings OF the Circuit Court,
which adjourned last week, and our.attention
was then, and had heretofore been, called to
some of the bad workings Of the system, as
at present practically carried out in this
county. We are not going to stultify our
selves by an attack on the system of jury
trials; that is two deeply seated in the az
fsctions of liberty-loving people, ever to
be destroyed. But certainly, in its practical
workings, as we see it at times, there IS not
all the beauty, safety, and purity which has
been attributed to it. The trial by jurles
has become, in too many instances, little
better than game Of chance, or the verdict
of mems preindices,:: whims or feelings; and
it is losing the respect which should be
given to the impartial Judgment OF twelve
candid and honest citizens. Why is this
We well know the character of too many
of the men who compose our juries. We
have professional jurors in Evansville as
in larger cities,-men who are fit for almost
anything else than jury trial. LISA fact,
well known to persons at all conversant
with our Court proceedings, that such places
as " Whisky Row" furnish their full pro
portion of the jury panel, to say the least Of
IT ;land we hear complaints made, for this
cause, over and over again. And yet, did
these citizens, who are SO willing to COM
plain, ever think of the cause of this state Of
things They attribute it to the Sheriff
aud the other of the Court and county Off
GERS, and they may, in some degree, be res
ponsible for it--but not altogether So. Oul
business men, our men Of property, of trade
and of the industrial pursuits, must answer
for many Of the abuses of the jury. Ii i
plainly the duty of every good citizen
every one who is willing to obey and enforc'
obedience to the laws, to sit upon juries a
his allotted times. This no one will deny
And yet, how seldom is it that our men o
business and intelligence are found in thu
jury box. And the reason is, because the.
decline or refuse to bear their part o
the public burthens in administering
Justice Time and again have we seer
this class of citizens, who are the best jurors
when summoned upon the jury, multiPl!
their excuses so amazingly that the Cour
could not well refuse to discharge them
They leave their places to be filled by tn
hangers-on of the Sheriff and his officials
by men who have ne better occupation
than to lounge about the Court room will
the expectation Of gaining paltry sun
with which, perhaps, to quiet a thirsty ap
petite. And yet, these same good citizens
who are unwilling to discharge one of th
most sacred duties which the State impose
upon them, are loud in their denunciatiol
of inefficient and reckless juries. Whei
honest, intelligent, and business men ar
willing to perform their portion of the put
lie service in this particular, our jury sys
tenn will become-what il should be-
safeguard to life, liberty, and property. I'm
tiI-then, it will be reproach to the name
Justice. 49, 81 e.