New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-06-29
A SLIGHT SPASN.

There has BEEN sudden waking up in
this city to the evils that have crept into
our jury system We now hear loud COM
plants OF purcAas.bie Jurors, profession
ais who hang around tie cour: rooms for
the purpose Of n:iling a few dollars for
some employer who Las an interest. either
as principal or Lex. friend or attorney. in
a verdict. One paper goes so far as to in
innate that jurias ;re organized to acquit Or
to convict. as de interests OF those who
impane. them nayreauire.
SO long Is III, evi! was confined to
prosecutions against the lower classes for
assaults, larcen.es. rObberies, ETC.. or to
letting some ra.Le we'll connected muir
derer go free. it dill no. attract much at
tention. The bar Of New Orleans has
been rather in tie habie OF abiding to it
as al abstract ab.sc. which it was no
special business OF theirs 70 correct; the
press. with the exception Of the REPCB-
L.CAN, has on TOO many occasions been
restricted il their luty to expose the evil
by the fact tina: Sme prisoner who has
powerful friends hal just received bene-
Fl: from il; while he ceusures called out
by the occasional. escape Of al adroit thief
scarcely attracted any attention.
But the bad practice has increased. 1t
has left the Grim IA. Court. where the
suits are between he State and private
parties. and has in'aded the civil courts.
Here. however, We have vigilant contest
ants on both sids--mer who will not,
like the State. guilty accept the verdict
Of bribed jury as he law. Hence, there
is something OF ftss and lutter. Prob
ably. like everything else that everybody
starts out to do. will be overdone at
first and dropped altogether at last.
There will never )e any certainty about
tie honesty or correctness Of jury verdicts
till the system. Is materially changed. 1t
is one OF the absurGties of our law that
tie Judge. who reaif has very little to do
in tie trial O. {. criminal case. is selected
with great care, eitler by appointment Or
popular election. Everybody agrees il
the abstrac. that Leshould be an honest,
capable man. learnd il the law. and POS
sessed Of all the Christian virtues. On
tie other hand, thejueors, who have the
absolute disposal Of crimina! case.
without any appel il case of acquittal,
are required by theiaw and the practice
to have but one quality, and that Is pro-
found ignorance Of lie case to be tried.
This condition is marty always the conse-
Guence of mental Stupidity and illiteracy.
So long IS the laws exclude men from
i.ries for the very rasons which sensible
Ken urge a. tue lest recommendations
.or Judges. SO long will the people have
reason to be dissatisfied with system
which has been grady but falsely styled
tLe palladium Of or liberties. The loose
custom our American iuries have of let
ting four-itths OF the proved criminals
escape, i, more injurious to the public IN
teres: and the goodof society than would
be the evi: it WAS designed to correct.
Juries were frs: suggested as means to
save the innocent from tie prosecutions
OF tyrana:cai rule. They now serve to
screen the guilty rom merited punish
ment. and give license to well known
miscreants to vail the streets. If a po-
!icemar fails to arEst any man that some
enthusiast suppose, to be thief, there is
a terrible hubbub licked up, and the In
slant discharge of the officer demanded.
But let Jury bring in verdict OF not
guilty in the face g sworn testimony
which shows another condition OF facts.
and the cowardiy fear Of attacking the
'ral,adi,... muzzhs the press. Perhaps
by next winter We nay be prepared for
new jury law, in which we can incorporate
the principle that juror shall have some
intelligence and holesty.