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

bY BOL 0ht1H.
Who, in st. Louis, does not know Noah
Ridgelyf Who, in st. Louis, has not
known him for along time-not long
enough not to know "anybody else"-
but . long, long time-years Even here
in New Orleans, Noah 10 tolerably we'll
knOwn-and, at the river towns interme.
diate, there are a few "fellers" who are
on terms Of speaking acquaintance with
him. In fact, wherever the steamer Ham
nibal has made landing-(and where is
the landing she has not made stop at p
Noah has been seen and known at some
time or other. But in st. Louis-well,
there's no use writing about how well
he's known there. And wherever known,
Noah Is favorite-I might say great
favorite. He has been clerk of the afore-
said Hannibal for l don't know how many
years-and the Hannibal continues TO
perform vnyages between New Orleans
and St Louis with her single but power
full engine, and seems as good as new !;
and Noah comes around with his freight
bills with astonishing rcgularity-and lie
appears better than new.
But to my story. In st. Louis, we
oil know the difficulty Of procuring Jurors
to try cases before justices of the peace
t being almost next to an impossibilty
to get together twelve citizens, "good
men and true" who are willing to sit for
two or three hours in a Justices Office,
which is never, by any accident, larger
than moderate sized band box surround
ed by q promiscuous crowd which always
gathers, filling up room, doors and win.
dOws, when jury trial is to come off
especially if lawyers are employed in it.
1t so happened, "once upon q time"
two merchants had little misunderstood.
ing 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 u jot-
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 as much out
Of the case as he could, asserted the con.
stitutional right of his client, and demand.
ed jury. A venire Gacias was according.
ly issued, and Constable Brshby started
off to execute his writ.
At the expiration Of about an hour, du.
ring which the court, attorneys and spec.
tatOrs waited with exemplary patience,
Bushby returned, followed by one sOlita-
ry individual, carrying q huge lot Of
freight bills in one hand, and lfsmoked
cigar in the other-it was Noah.
"Have you summoned the Jury, Mr..
Constable y" inquired the justice.
ayes, sir" replied Bushby, throwing
down upon The table the writ, with the
names Of twelve citizens inscribed thereon.
" have summoned them, but they won't
come"
"Won't come. won't come ?" remarked
the justice, "we'il See about that. Clerk,
write out attachments for these gentle.
men. How many are there who refuse to
obey the order Of the courtT"
eleven, your honor" answered the
sweating constable this is the only one
Of the lot, (pointing 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.. Ridgcly,
have you to pleadH What valid reason
can you give the court why you should
not serve on this jury ?" asked the justice.
IL believe" replied Noah, stretching
himself up to his full height, and taking
the cigar from his mouth--he had been
smoking since he entered
the Ofice-"I believe fireman is exempt
from jury dutyf"
Certainly, certainly" replied the jus.
ticc; "but was not aware you belonged
to either Of the engine companies. Nav
ask. Mr.. Ridsely, which engine you run
witht"
(which cngineP The old St. Louis
You are aware, perhaps, Mr.. Justice, that
tho old st. Louis had two engines; one Of
them constitutes at this time the motive
power Of the Hannibal, and that il the
engine run with-and when hard pushed
for hands, | have, upon occasions, acted
as fireman, therefore | suppose I'm ex.
cused from jury duty"
mot so fast, my friend" interposcd
the justice, y" this will not excuse you"
mot" exclaimed Noah, with appa.
rent surprise; them" he continued, tn.
king . scAtpn the jury bench, "bring on
your case, since / am overruled, and let
Us through with II IS soon as we can, for
III DO hanged il stop long"
Bushby, at this juncture, returned from
another unsuccessful foray through the
neighbOring streets and alleys.
Cant scare up . single man." he re.
ported, sitting down and wiping the per.
apiTatiOn from his face with cotton hand.
kerchief which he carried in his hat
"What is to be donei" snquired the
lawyers.
81 am sure I don't know answered
Justice Walsh, sunless you choose to take
Mr.. Ridgcly here, and lot him decide your
case"
As the laws Of Missouri permit parties
by mutHal consent to take "any numbtr
less than twelve" in civil Cases, the law
yers. finding there was no chance Of
soaring up" any more jurOrs. agreed to
take NOOh as the jury, and after q few
objections on bis part, he was sworn in.
and: Furnished seat In the centre Of the
jury bench.
"Come now, boys" remarked The solI.