The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1861-07-06

the cakes I've got all these bills TO collect
and confound me if l can stay here long
for anybody"
The lawyers made short work Of the
evidence, not wishing to fatigue the jury,
and proposed 10 submit the case without
argument.
The Justice thought this was a very
good plan-it was near dinner time-and
suggested that perhaps the jury was ready
to give a verdict without leaving his seat,
when the jury spoke as follows:
May it please the court, the jury Is
not ready to give a verdict. This is an
important matter-a matter involving but
a small matter, it is true; but the princi.
pie to be settled by our decision here to-
day is one which interests the whole city
the State-the United States-I may
say the whole commercial world The
jury, at great Inconvenience, has been
dragged here, and compelled to sit in
judgment-the evidence being through,
this jury would like to hear the argument
Of the counsel !"
"Very vel" answered the counsel for
the defence and Immediately poured forth n
VI CIO4uCuCC III IuNOI VI tic Slue
he espoused, which must have had con-
vincing effect in the right quarter, for
whtn the learned gentleman resumed his
seat, the jury expressed himself ready to
render verdict; but the attorney for the
plrintif now insisted upon being heard,
and accordingly set forth his view OF the
case in such vivid colors that the Jury,
before he had finished his hours speech,
had evidently rclapsedinto state Of doubt
and uncertainty.
IF the court pleases," remarked the
jury, "before this last speech n verdict
might have been given that would have
satisfied one Of the parties at least. This
speech has turned everything topsy.turvy.
There are some points on which the jury
must request the instructions of the
court"
The instructions were given. and it was
generally supposed that verdict would
be rendered Nt orce. as the dinner. bells
were now ringing out in every direction !;
but not so-the jury preferred to retire
and consider upon its verdict; and as oil
parties, except the jury, seemed about
obeying the summons of the bells, hint
was deicately given that it would be no
more than proper, and. indeed human,
that the jury should be furnished with re-
freshments. The hint was seized upon
by the attorneys, and two very abundant
dinners were in few moments passed in
through the window from the neighb0r.
ing Jefferson House, the justice, consta.
blcs, lawyers and spectators having left
the office in possession Of the jury. &C.
cOrding to the custom Of those times.
After. dinner, the crowd gradually re.
assembled In the street, and through the
open window the imperturbablc jury was
seen with one leg cooked over the knee Of
the other, looking carefully over the au-
thorities which had been referred to by
the lawyers then changing his position
and putting the leg which had been un-
der on top, the upper wall Of the room
was scanned with earnestness, for few
minutes, after which large volume con.
tanning the statutes Of Missouri was dill
gently consulted, and so on. 1t was evil
dent, from appearances, that the jury had
not yet agreed.
At six O'Clock, under instructions from
Justice Walsh, the constable inquired, us
is usual in such cases. elias the Jury
agrecd?" A solemn "No" was the re-
sponse, and soon after candles were
brought and placed upon the table by the
constable, who, after lingering q moment
in hopes Of an intimatiOn that n verdict
had been agreed on, was waved out Of the
room by the jury.
From quarter past six until eleven
o'clock, they cogitatcd without any result
Atlength Bushby was ordered to summon
the Jury into court, which was done by
opening the outer door and admitting the
justice and crowd into the presence Of the
jury.
There sat the jury as undecided as at
dinner time.
Gentlemen Of the jury" said the JUS
tice, Inajestically, "have you agreed upon
your vrrdicty ="
MAY it please the court" answered
Noah, with great dignity, "I believe it is
customary to poll the jury before asking
that question"
"Very WELL" replied the Justice, who,
il must be confessed, was becoming fretful,
"poll away"
Bushby polled the jury, calling out from
his list
"Noah Ridgely"
" Here" answered the jury.
An right" reported BIshby to the
justice.
Now thcn--the jury being pollct--
gentleman of the jury" repatcd the jus.
tice, slowly, have--you--agreed- -upon
-your--verdict
"May-it-please-th -the-court-
answered Noah, rising and shaking his
head cmphatically.
"Is there any likelihood Of the Jury
being able to agrecy" demanded Justice
Walsh, desperately.
Not the least ghost Of n chance" re.
piled Noah" the jury is hung"
A dismissal of the jury followed, and a
new trial was ordered. Noah continues
to collect the freight bills of the old Han.
ni6GE, and is now exempt from jury duty
by general consent.