New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-05-21
The Juryman,s Prayer.

| prOCroCCeO, 0xcltl0g mucn interest. ii
people relied upon . number Of ci
guilt of the prisoner. These, howeve
were answered by . we'll prepare
: ingenious defense, which was in tut
ably rebutted by the district attorne
but, after all, when the evidence closed, Il
case was nearly balanced, the weight
evidence, if any, being against the plisone
1t is now known that Rock had confesse
his guilt to Mr.. Proctor before the tri
commenced; that he was lnstigated to II
crime by the refusal of the owner of tt
building fred to allow him to address b
daughter in the character Of . suitor. No
withstanding this, his counsel entered o
the trial with zeal and determination, fo
getting, as 10 often the case, the guilt of hi
client in professional ambition. But Their
was another circumstance that stimulate
the defense into more than ordinary energy
Rock was . Frenchman, with respectful
connections in Canada He had seen man
vicissitudes in life, though he was sti
young. A short time before the trial was t
commence, Mr.. Proctor was called up il
the night by mysterious stranger, wrapped
in large cloak and wearing side rimme,
hat, which partly concealed his face. ..
have called on you in relation to man O
the name of Joseph Rock, soon to be triet
for burning building. You are his counsel
l believe. | wish you to answer me plainly
do you think there is any danger of his be
ing convlcted2" He was told that it wa
very doubtful, indeed, whether the people
| convict him. He must not be hung; yor
must prevent that. if possible. Thar
would-would-bu it must not be-" said
the man with deep feeling. After an hours
further conversation on the subject the
stranger handed the counsel Q liberal fee and
departed as he came mystery. In that
conversation something was disclosed to the
| lawyer which touched him heart and soul.
turning bis sympathies strongly toward his
NAMED and will always remain profound
| secret. The arguments in the case were
closed for q few moments before the ad-
jOurnment of the court for the day. The
jury, under the usual admOnitions of the
court, retired, the Judge deciding not to
give his charge until morning. 1t hap
pened that the foreman and the counsel for
the defense occupied adjoining sleeping
rooms. Early the next morning the lawyer
was awakened by . voice in the jurors
room. Listening, he ascertained that
the Juror was engaged in prayer. In
deep earnestness he was petitioning the
Judge Of earth and heaven to guide him
Alright in the awful duty that was CON-
mitted to him and his fellow Jurors. 1t
was not prayer to be heard of men-not
one of those applications so often heard,
where the speaker is too srudious o, fine
words, but it was prayer breathed out
under the direc ions of Christ himself
secret prayer-'man in audience with
d iiy." The lawyer heard it all, for he
could not avoid 1t. He bad been educated
to believe in "fervert, etfectual prayer"
and he was deeply Impressed with The
eolemnity of this juryman's prayer.
When it was ended, he opened bis door
and walked into the room where the
lawyer lay, that being the only way
he could reach the outer hall. AS
he did this he saw that the counsel was
awake. Pausing q moment, he approached
his bed. You have, doubtless, heard NV
prayer. You have heard me re-
fer to the man-yOur client, whose fate is
soon to be committed to me and my fellow
jurors. The case hangs so heavy on my
mind that have asked God to assist u.s."
After another panse, in which he seemed |
debating with himself, he concluded. II
desire to ask you a single question. don't |
want you to answer me as lawyer, but l |
want you to answer me as man standing |
hearts are open, and from whom no secrets
ire mid. You have labored hard and ably |
or your client. You doubtless know all |
lis secrets. You know his guilt or innO-
,ence. Now tell me, do you believe |
lin innocent Thare was nothing the
awyer go much desired at that moment as
he acquittal OF his client. He knew from
he character, intelligence and influence Of
he juror that he would be controlling
he could emphatically assert then and
here that his client was an innocent man,
q would be acquitted. But the eye of the
lrOr was fastened almost sternly upon him;
9 had been summoned to answer before
higher law" For q moment he hesitated,
,r moment he essayed to shout the one
word, "InnOcent," but he could
OF. He was out of the court room now.
here zeal often gets the best of truth
[e hesitated, the eye of the juror still fixed
pom him. At length be said, "Mr.
ent ia behalf Of my client; Won have
card all that have said in regard to his
nilt or innocence. l said then, / saw now.
lat the evidence does not convict him. /
IN say no more, except that deely appre-
ate the purity of your motives in address
G me, though it is against the law" There
sacred confidence in this interview that
feel will never be broken. l may have
red in seeking it, but, as you say, my mo-
yes were pure. could have wished that
sentence was not finished.
10 juror left the room ere it was com.
eted. At the opening of the court on that {
Orning, after an able and impartial charge
ON the judge, the jurors retired After an
sence Of an hour and q half thew came {
to court with verdict of guilty, and Jo- 8
phi Rock was sentenced to death. But bis
detatigable counsel, after moving for new 6
al, hlch was denied, applied to the Gov G
nor for communication Of the death sen 6
nee to Imprisonment for life. In this he !,
as successful. After several years con- G
cement at Auburn, Rock died in prison. 6
le juror, man OF high responsibility in !
vingston county, long ago went to the Is
ave. Many of his fellow jurors have fol. Il
we'd him, but the scene in that slee ming. b
amber is still vivid in the memory OF the 3
wyer. A year or two ago he related it to =
. writer. ending the story by saying: "If Il
ck had never admitted his guilt to me. / 4
lieve l could, under the evidence, have d
'ked that juror in the eye and asserted =
} innocence with strong emphasis, and H
1t would have acquitted him. have H
ver," he continued, ''since then permit d
person charged with crime to confess II
70 me, though have had many cases in Ii
Itch l believe they desired to do so."- h
chester Democrat. d