Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1873-03-21
TE.r ES,

Two ruffians, were lately brought to tri-
al ip Philadelphia on criminal indictment
Tor keeping gambling house. There were
some circumstances in the affair which
were peculiarly agGravating. The forces
OF good and evil in society were squarely
pltted against each other. Public morality
iself-nav, even public decencv. were in
tbe issue. AT last, after full hearing, the
case went to the jury, and the jury went to
iheir room. There they were at once lock-
ed up; and there, for eleven days and
nights, they remained, grimy, uncomplain-
ingly, without murmur of impatience
breaking from the room. Finally, on the
twelfth day, they returned into court with
verdict of guilty AT that decision ev-
cry good citizen breathed mure freely; and
then, loaded with com pliments from the
judge. girded about by benedictions from
the uititude, the discharged jurors grasp
ed their vaises, and sped ont of the court
mouse away TO their homes, weary and bag
gard, through the crowd which pelted them
with questions to which they gave no an
swer but silence.
What was the history OF those eleven
kept them so long9 How many resisted
the verdict which was finally rendered
Our good friend the interviewer, has kind
ly come TO the rescue. By his help, we can
answer some of these questions.
The jurymeu had scarcely had their first
polling, when len Of them discovered that
desperate game was going 10 be PLAYED
upon them by the grim minority of two.
These two, for reasons which have been
publicly impugned as corrupt, swore that
they were going 10 fight "convictou' 10
the last, and one OF them said that he could
stay there and would stay there Till the ac-
cused had a verdict of not guilty. So the
battle began and so ii continued, hour af-
ter hour, from dark ness to darkness, till
nearly two weeks had worn away. There
were no blows struck there was no noise
which sounded beyond the wa :. 1t was
simply combat of waiting. 1t was sim
ply battle of the passive virtues. 1t was
motionless campaign 10 prove whelner
the two could conquer ten. il patience ia
power OF suffering, in dcgged delornina-
tion. By-and-by, one of the amiabe pair
gave way; and at last, on the twelfth morn
ing. the other surrendered, and the cause
of public virtue triumphed through the
clear grit of The len heroes.
In the conversations which took place af-
terwards between a newspaper reporter and
several of the juryinen, we catch some rich
glimpses of human nature.
Reporter.-"I suppose the hours were
often dull during your long imprlson-
ment?"
Ju'Vman. -"Decidedly. We told each
other all the old jokes aud yarns we knew,
but the Interchange soon ran us out. We
also improvisei domlnoes and checker
boards, but the time passed very slowly.
There was no sickness except an OCCASION
al headache In the Iarty, and good nature
prevailed nearly all the Time"
Reporter -''Were tde Jurors. all on good
ternis during your secusion p
Jurymdn.-"Wilh the exception Of ouce
or twice. One of The men brought in with
him pack of cards, and for while they
were of great service in helping us to kill
time; but at last Mr.. Webster, whose re-
ligious principles are opposed to The use of
cards, said that men who were trying a
gambling case should not idle away their
time in that way above all other ways. He
not only talked against the cards, but pre-
vented their use by casting them into the
stove. There was some ill., feeling for lit
tie while over the matter; but ultimately
1t died out, and the man who was angry
admitted that the old gentleman was right"
we think It not unworthy of our time
to tell this tale Of ten heroes. An incident
like this is peculiarly refreshing. II cam
not be denied that we have had among us,
during the last year or two juries who did
no honor 10 the jury system. In fact, ma
ny thousands Of persons, of late, have se-
riously doubted whether the venerable in-
stituton of trial by jury were not ven-
erable humbug. One instance like this Of
the Philadelphia jury, goes far towards re-
deeming the whole met hod from tho blight
of popular distrust. Christian Union,