The Placer herald. [volume] (Auburn, Placer County, Calif.) 1855-1991, 1861-07-20
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 ,ime-not long enough not
to know "anybody else''-but long, long
time-years? Even here in New Orleans,
Noah is tolerably well k9own - and
at tie river towns intermediate, there are
few 'te!Iers" 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 a stop at')-Noah has been seen and
known at some time or other But in St.
Louis-wull, there's no use writing about
how well he's known there. And wherever
known, Noah is favorite--I might say
great !avorte He has been clerk of the
aforesaid Hannibal for | don't know how
many years-and the Hannibal continues to
perform voyages between New Orleans and
St Louis with her single but powerful engine,
and seems as good as new; and Noah comes
around with his freight bills with astonsh,
inc regularity y-and he appears better than
new.
But to my story. In St. Louis, we all
know the difficulty of procuring juors to
try cases before justices of the peace-it
being almost next to an impossiblity 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
an accident, larger than a moderate sized
band box surrounded by promiscuous
crowd which always gathers, filing mp
room, doors and windows, when a jury trial
is to come of-especialy if lawyers are en-
ployed in it.
1t so happened "once upon time," two
merchants had a misunderstanding which
resulted in their going to law before Justice
Walsh. The amount in dispute was mere
trihe: but each was obstinate and would not
give way ajot-so to law they went.
TO make matters worre, each must have a
lawyer to help him on, and one Of the law
yers determined to make as much out of
the case SIS he could asserted the coustitu-
tonal right of his client, and demanded a
Jury. venire facias was accordingly is'
sued and Constable Bushby started off to
execute his writ.
At the expiration of about an hour, dur.
ing which the court, attorneys and specta-
tors waited with exemplary patience, Bush
by returned, followed by huge lot of
freight bills in one hand, and Il half smoked
cigar in the other-it was Noah.
"Have you summoned the jury, Mr.. Con-
stable?" inquired the justice.
"Yes,sir replied Bushby, throwing down
upon the table the writ with the names of
twelve citizens inscribed thereon. 81 have
summoned them, but they won't come
"Wont come, won't Gomez" remarked the
Justice, swell see about that. Clerk, write
out an attachment for these gentlemen.
How many are there who refuses to obey
the order of the court!"
"EIeven yer honor" answered the sweat
ing constable; "this is the only one of the.
Iot (pointng to our friend Noah,) | have
been able to scare up, and he don't seem
much disposed to serve-says he intends to
plead his privileged"
"What privilege, pray, Mr.. kidgey' have
you to plead! What valid reason can you
give the court why you should not serve on
this iury9" asked the justice.
81 believe" replied Noah, stretching him
self up to bis full height and taking the ci-
gar from his mouth-he had been industri-
ously smoking snceh entered the Office
Il believe fireman exempt from jury dutya"
"Certainy, certainly" replied the justice;
'but l was not aware you belonged to Ell
ther of the engine companies. May ask,
Mr.. RidgeIy which engine you rnn with?"