The Placer herald., 1861-11-02
Judge Myres and the Juror.

we take the following from an exchange,
which has been floating around for the last
fortnight in the abolition press of this State.
Curses loud ard deep have been showered
upon the head of Judge Myres because he
simply performed his duty as an officer
under the laws Of the State. One sapient
individual thinks the Judge should have adj
minis.ered tie oath of allegiance to Boyd;
another editor thinks that the juror should
shave been arrested for treason" and so they
90 For the information of these cover
wrought patriots" we will inform them that
the article has been made up for the times.
1t was first published in the Marysvle
Democrat:
A DIsGRAcEFUL Scene IN CoURT.-The
following proceedings are reported as having
occurred in Ell Dorado county recently:
At a term of the District Court IN that
county, Judge Myres presiding, man by
the name of Boyd, was summoned as a jury
man. Mr.. Sanderson, District Attorney. in
terposed a challenge as to bis competency,
when the following colIoqny occurred:
Judge--Upon what ground do you cha!-
lenge the juror!
AHorney--As to his citizenship.
Jadge--,Very well, sir, proceed. Clerk
swear the juror
attorney Ito juror)-Are you citizen of
the United States?
Juyor-No, sir.
Attoyney-1o what power or country do
you owe and acknow ledge allegiance!
Juror-To the Confederate States.
Attoney-Do YOU intend to retnrn to the
Confederate States:
Jaror-I do, as soon as ] get my pay
from the United States Government for ser
vices as Deputy Census Marshal Of this
county.
attorney, Ito the Court i suppose, your
Honor, that is sufficient ground for the chaI'
lenge.
Judge-Wel, don't think there 10 sutii
cient cause, and the juror will take his seat
in The box.
The juror was thereupon sworn in and
served during the term.
A Judge who permits an avowed traitor
10 serve as juror, must be of the same
kidney himself. MarysvWe Democrat.
The following letter from Mr. Sanderson
to Judge Myres explains the whole matter
and will no doubt enable the alarmists to
enjoy a good nights sleep, and to thank
Heaven they "silI live"
PIAcERvIILE. October 25th, 1861.
HoN. B F. MYEEs- Dear SW:-Yours Of the
10Th inst, requesting me to state, according to
my best recollection. what transpired in Court on
a certain occasion when juror, one +. X. Boyd
was challenged by me on the ground that he was
not citizen Of tie United States. has been duly
received What occurred on that occasion was
substantially as follows:
Mr. Boyd had been examined by counsel for
the prisoner touching his competency as a Juror
and passed to me / then asked MIR Boy. Are
You a citizen OF the United States?' Mr.. Boyd
replied, Il am, sir. at present, but inten to
join the Southern Contcderacy, soon as | can
arrange my business So as to leave California;
then asked, $40 you now acknow ledge allegi-
ance to the so-called Southern Coniederacy?"
To which Mr. Boyd replied, IL do not"
then intcrposcd a challenge upon the ground
THAT he was not citizen of the United States"
which your Honor very properly overrulcd and
the juror was sworn in with the others. | have
only to say in addition that the whole mat was
intended as a Jest by me. ana was so understood
by all present Mr.. Boyds secession procliyities
were well known to me, and had, just before
Court was called, laughingly remarked to him
that | was going to challenge him upon the
ground already mentioned, and he in like
spirit. replied that ! dare not do il. To be as
good as my word examined and challenged him
as stated above. To my certain knowledge Mr..
Boyd did not say that he was not citizen of the
United States. nor did he say anything about
getting his pay from The United States Govern
I i
Respectfully yours.
S W SANDERSON.
The Next AssEMBLY.-The San Francisco
He1oM saws: Several Of our contemporaries
are impressed with the idea that the Repnb
LEANS will have a majority in he Assembly.
They will have exactly, thirty seven of the
eighty members.
WESTERN VIRGrNIA-1he Cincinnati En-
qurer of October -, says:
The entire country of the Kanawha Val
ley is devastated, and the farmers are leaving
as rapidly as transportation can be found to
bring them North Forage is out of the
question, and provisions cannot be procured.
During the past two weeks there base
been continuous rains, and the roads are
almost impossible.
The campaign in Western Virginia is vir
tually ended, and preparations are on foot
to withdraw portion Of our forces there,
and send them into Kentucky, leaving only
a sufficient force to prevent the rebels from
approaching north Of Gauley river or west
of Cheat Mountain"
The San Francisco Call understands that
the Sumner Home Guard would not take the
"oath" on Sunday, as the rest of the militia
ry did, although the members of the Guard
expressed their willingness to take it on any
other day. Wonder if they wounan't refuse