Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-02-10
MEN OF STRAW.
Judge Lee after Professional
Jurors and ROndsmsn.
Good Move.

/ The following order was made yester-
day in the Law Court, and directed to
be entered upon the minutes
Two great evils existing in the COM
mupity, directly interfering with and
detrimental to 8 pure and proper admin
istrati0n of justice have reached such
gigantic proportions asi to call upon
Courts Of justice for specific action in the
premises They are: lst. professional
iurorism.n ID. Professional bonds
men" To remedy the first mentioned
evil this Court has issued its venire for
Jur0Ts taken with ~particularity eXclu-
sively from the business community and
men OF character q standing IN the
city. That class of citizens will De COM
PEELED to furnish the jurors for this Court
0ut in order 10 render the burden thus
imposed upon them as light as possible,
they will from time TO time, and as rap
idly ss their places can be supplied with
men from a like class, be relieved. 1t is
not the intention of the Court TO i'm
pose upon them or any individual OF
that Glass the onerous burden OF serving
through q whole term Of he Court.
The Court and the officers thereof
have been besleged by q horde of
professional jurors, asking to be en-
panDeled at the present term OF court.
rhe laW provides no means Of bringing
such parties to punishment, or its pro-
visions would be rigidly enforced but
as 5 mean Of remedyiDg this outrageous
evil, the court will intimate that Shelby
county furnishes a poOrhouse for the
benefit Of psupeTs. Ia view Of that fact,
the court does not deem il to be its duty
10 furnish support to INDECENT persons by
assigning them to jury duty. Serving
upon juries is 3 high duty OF patriotism
TO which none but the best citizsns should
be called. IL is made as q recommends
ton of the Law Court of Memphis, to be
certified by the clerk to the members of
the Legislature from Shelby county, that
= law be speedily enacted making it q
misdemeanOr for any person to solicit
from any judge or officer Of a court OF
record the position of juror, either TO be
summoned upon general or special We
nire, or otherwise.
AS 70 the second evil, the court will
hereafter order the Sheriff to arrest and
bring to trial all persons known to be in
the "straw bond business, il matters
not who they are, so fast as they may be
discovered, and timely warning to that
effect is hereby given. The amount OF
perjury committed in this line is ap-
pallipg to q familiar with the facts.
AS there seeing to be some doubt whether
a false justification upon sppesi or other
bonds constitutes the crime Ofl0eTjury,
the clerk will also certify TO the mem
bers Of the Legislature from Shelby
county, as the recommendation Of this
Court. that an act, plain in its terms and
provisions, De Rt Onc passed to cover
any defect that may exist IL the law
this subject.
In the absence OF any provision Of
covering OF preventing these two
evils, the Court will use the best means
st its command 20 suppress them, and
will hereafter order the names Of ell pro- !
fessiOnsl jurors bssieging the Court or
its officers for jury service, and Of all
&" stray bondsmen whose names are
found upon the papers of the Court to be
published in the city papers and spe-
cifc orders will be made to the Sheriff
and Clerk not TO receive or accept them
ia any instance is either capacity for
they may Offer.