Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-01-10


The Boston Journal, discussing the merits aud
defects of the jury system, suggests that it
might be well to shorten the term of jury SER
vice. In Suffolk county, it appears that jurors
returned for the superior court for criminal
business are required to serve three terms, that
is fblee months, obviously longer time than
anybody ought to be compelled to devote to a
public duty Of this character, for which the
payment provided by law is in most cases en-
finely inadequate. Service can't be demanded
only once in three years, but even this makes
heavy tax upon man who has business of his
own which needs his personal attention. Il is
OF course, impossible to adjust the compensation
OF Jurors so that jury service will cease to be a
peeuniary burden. A few jurymen are not very
inadequatcly raid now; the time of Others is
worth from three TO ten dollars a day, while
Others, having the direction Of important affairs
incur themselves, or cause to Others, by
absence from their ordinary business, a
much larger loss, whose amount is nor easily
estimated. 1t is desirable that juies should
comprise men Of all the various honorable en-
poymenis in which cur com unity is engaged
Tie merchant OF banker, whose operations are
large and lucrative, is perhaps no more valuable
as juryman than the fIrmer or mechanic, bur
he Is no less 50. Each has his use; each is famil-
lar with certain matters, and has his special
knowledge and experience, which will aid him
self and his fellows in eomprehending the testi-
mOny on certain questions liable to come before
them for settlement. The most intelligent
sagacious and upright men are the best qualified
for fhfs aC for mr. nj 4 o,,d
is plain that the laws should be so arranged as
TO secure, 50 far as possible, men Of this charac
Ter, without imposing unequal burdens upon
Them, and without making unreasonable re-
qurements Of any
ltisacommon complintin the large cities that
the quality Of juries has much deteriorated and
ccDnnuts TO do sn,becuuse intelligent and capable
men coIlriye to eyade tie burden OF Jury duty.
In Boston, where the term of service required is
tlIee months, it is no wonder that business men
will escape it, if they eau We do not know
that the samccomplaiutis made here. webclieve
the juues attending the courts in thi, county
have usually been fairly representative Of the
average intelligence aud good sense of the com
munity. We know, however, that the service is
rec ,rded as a heavy burden, which few arc will
ing to bear if they can help it, and that there is
tendency to excuse fiom it, both by the towns
and Officers who make up the jury lists, and by
the eoafts, the men whose time and talents, be.
ing Of the most pccuniary value to them
selves, are presumably worth most TO the
public in this capacity The teims of the courts
here are not usually, except in winter, so long
as o make jury duty serious hardship; but
when they continue two or three months the tax
is severely let by many. Ii is miligatcd some
what by excuses at the discretion OF the court,
but if shorter term OF service were required,
fewer excuses and exemptions would be neces.
saiy. II would be well 10 provide by law that
no one should be compelled TO serve as jury
miu more fnan two weeks at one fine This Is
long enough for man to be Withdrawn from
his private business The change would distri.
bu e tue burden more equally among the com
munily, and iamliarze a larger number of oul
citizens with the business Of the courts.
Tho f0tntnfrens - a.. a. -