Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1869-10-20
cLEARFIELD, PA, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 20. 1862
NEW SERIES--V0L. 10, NO. IA.


held dear were fastened in that con
suming firey
BY your verdict you have said that
Griffin did right You have said that
ho had a right to go to sleep while on
duty; that he had right to sit on
his cushion, reclining his head against
the bar, and voluntarily go to sleep
even II hundred lives were depend
ing on his diligence that it was right
that the persons on that train should
be bnrnedl You have said, as a Jury
OF Pike county, that Griffin and all
other engineers, may sleep upon their
/ posts, and they are guilty Of no crime
supposed, when j charged you yes
terday, that | was addressing intelli.
gent and conscientious jurymen-men
who would have some regard for their
oaths. feel humiliated, the public
must feel Inundated, that a Jury OF
Pike county should so conduct them.
selves.
No one has more sympathy than
have for the defendant and for his
wife, and for his children if he has any.
Yesterday when | heard that shrek
from his wife, | felt to synpathizo
with her, but | could not be u party
TO such monstrous verdict thank
God that the verdict ofthis jury settles
nothing.
But such monstrous verdict rs this
brings the jury system into disre2uto
"A system for which | have always
bad the greatest respect, which now,
l must admit, is somewhat shaken--a
system which permits twelve men to
nulily the laws Of the Legislature, TO
set at naught the instructions of the
Court, TO ignore justice, and to pub
lish to the world that public servant;
has a right to sleep on his post and
not be responsible for any Of the con
sequences. Suppose you were asked
TO give reason for yourvcrdict. You
could not; your tongues would be as
silent as those Of the victims Of James
Griilin's negligence. This verdict may
have been an error OF Judgment on
your part and / trust it was, as /
wish to be as charitable towards you
as consistently can.
rcbnkcd the demonstration that
was made here last night. / trust
that such another town meeting dem.
onstration will never be exhibited in
this or any other Court.
In future | hope that you will feel
proper regard for your oaths.
You are now discharged from any
further duty at this Court You are
not 6t TO sit as iurymen. / will not
try causes before such jury.
THE SENSATION IN TUE COURT ROOM,
when the Judge pronounced this
scathing and wilhering reproof, may
better be imagined tnan described
The impression made by his remarks
has extended abroad through the en-
tire community, and has given rise to
considerable excited feeling and dis
cusslon OF the merits or the verdict
CONCLUDING SCENES OF THE TRIAL.
Griffin was brought into Court,
when the Judge addressed few re.
marks TO him, saying that he had been
acquitted Of the offence that he (the
Judgo) believed the verdict was an
unjust and improper one; but he was
glad TO find, however, that in the
bour of peril he (Griilln) bad been
sustained as to his previous good
character by the voice of his friends
and neighbors, etc. The Judge then
sentenced him to pay tho costs of the
suit tprobably about sl00) or give
security for the payment Of same.
Mr.. Jcssup, Of counsel for prosecu.
ton, made a motion that Griffin be
held in recognizance to await proceed
ings against him on an indictment for
manslaughter under the common law.
After some discussion by counsel on
either side, the Judge denied the
motion
Griffin was then released from Gus
tody, and Immediately started for his
bone at Susquehanna Depot