Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1865-06-09


THE JuR9 COMMISSIONER Bill Many of
our readers may have forgotten that Hon
George W. Householder, at the late session
ofthe Legislature Of this State, succeeded in
having law passed for this Senatorial dis
irict, and few other counties, authorizing
the selection of two persons to be elected Jury
Commissioners at the election to be held this
fall Householder deserves the thanks of
every candid and impartial citizen of this dis
triet for the inception and passage of this
bill 1t is undoubtedly, at no very distant
day, calculated to revolutionize the present
system Of drawing jurors throughoutthe State.
And so important measure should be fully
considered by the Union people of this coun-
ty before the assembling of the County Con-
vention on the 9th instant One of the best
men in the county should be nominated by
that convention, for this Office, and we hope
that our opponents win do likewise. Up to
the present, we have not heard any one sug-
gested for the position, however, being a
sure thing we have no doubt but there viii
be plenty of applicants for this, as well as for
every other Office. Below we publish copy
of the law, that all who desire may learn its
provisions;
AN ACT for the better and more impartial
selection of persons TO serve as jurors IN
the several courts Of Somerset, Bedford,
Fulton, Perry, Juniata and Westmoreland
counties.
SECTION l. Be it enacted by the Senate and
House of Representatives Of the Common
wealth of Pennsylvania, in General Assembly
met, and it is hereby enacted by the authori-
ty OF the same. That at the general election
to be held on the second Tuesday of October,
Ammo Domini one thousand eight hundred
and sixty-6ve, and tri-annnal thereafter at
such election the qualified electors of Somer-
sst Bedford, Fulton, Perry, Juniata and
Westmoreland counties, Of this Common
wealth shall elect in the manner now proyi-
ded by law, for the election of other county
officers, two sober, intelligent and judicious
persons to serve as jury commissioners in
each Of said counties, for the period Of three
years ensuing their el1ct.U.l, but the same
person, or persons shall not be eligible for
reelection more than once in any period OF
three years. Pr0rided, That each of said
qualified electors shall vote for one person
only as jury commissioner, and the two per-
sons having the greatest number OF votes for
Jury commissioner shall be duly elected jury
commissioners for such county.
SEC. 2. 1t shall be the duty of said jury
commissioners to. meet at the seat of justice
| of the respective counties at least thirty days
before the first term of the court Of common
pleas in every year, and thereupon proceed
with due diligence to select alternately from
the whole male taxable citizens Of the res
pective county at large a sufficient number Of
SOBER intelligent and iudicious persons to
serve as Jurors in the several courts of such
county, during that year, and as soon as the
said election shall be completed, the said jury
| commissioners SHALL in the mooe and manner
directed by law, place the names of the per
sons, so selected, in the proper jury wheel.
SEC. g. The said jury commissioners and
the sheriff Of the respective county orany two
Of the three shall draw from the proper wheel
panels of Jurors for the trial of issues in fact
which may be taken IN any action in any OF
the courts Of the several counties aforesaid,
in the manner now practieed and allowed,
but before the said jury commissioners aud
sheriff shall proceed TO select or draw jurors
| in the manner aforesaid, they shall seyerally
take the oath or affirmation now prescribed
| by law, to be taken by the sheriff and county
commissioners before selecting and drawing
jurors
SEC. 4. That so much of any act or acts Of
| Assembly of this Commonwealth as makes it
the duty of the sheriff and county commits
sioners Of any of said counties to select and
draw Jurors, shall be repealed and cease to
| have any force or effect from and after the
second Tuesday of October next, Ammo Dom
ini one thousand eight hundred and sixty,fye.
| Prooided, That all acts and parts of acts Of
| Assembly now ia force in relation to the Gus.
| tody, sealing, unsealing, locking and open
/ ing Of the jury wheel of the respective county,
and all acts and parts Of acts OF Assembly,
now in force, imposing any penalty or punish
ment on the sheriff and county commissioners
or either Of them for anything done or omit
| ted by them, or either of them, in relation to
/ the keeping, locking, opening, sealing or
4 breaking the seal Of any jury wheel, or in re-
4 lation to the selecting or drawing Of Jurors
/ shall be taken, deemed and held to apply to
4 the said jury commissioners and sheriff.
I SIC. 5. Each of said jury commissioners
shall be allowed and paid out Of the respee-
( tive county treasury the same compensation
/ per day as is paid by the respective counties
named IN the bill to the county commission
] ers.
SIC. 6. 1t shall be the duty Of each Of said
4 Jury commissioners to take upon himself and
/ discharge the duties of his said Office under a
penalty Of one hundred dollars for each, and
every neglect or refusal to attend the same to
be used for, and recovered before any justice
Of the peace of the proper county as debts Of
! like amount are now by law recoverable, ten
dollars of which shall go to the person suing,
and the residue to be paid by the said justice
to the treasurer Of the respective comfy for
the use Of the same,