Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-04-05
PROFESSIONAL z
A Few Reflections Consernfng the
Habits and Existence of these USE
= CfafRens, with Short Desertp-
ton OF the Animals.

A Few Reflections ConeernfnR the
Habits and Existence of these USE
1uI CfafRens, with a Short Desertp-
non of the Animals.
Those who attend courts or frequent
~courthouses are usually thoroughly con
versant as to the professional juror, but
to the outside world such an official is a
mystery, a myth, just as if he came
handed down from remote ages when
mythology had the place that history
now fills. A professional juror is gene
rally a middle-aged gentleman, down at
the heels, a broken dowa citizen, who
either failed in every laudable aud indus
trious effort to make a living or else
never made the effort during the entire
course of his existence. To such a per-
sonage Law is a delightful study from a
jury box standpoint. He has a respect
for courts and a weakness for hearing
the lawyers talk when pleading causes.
He knows every person around the court
house-the judges, lawyers, clerks. sher.
ifs officers and the barkeepers in the
immediate vicinity. In the forenoon be
can generally be seer hanging around
one Of these ~bar-rooms, for he is a lunch
grabbing 6end on a moments notice and
upon the most remote invitation; in fact,
he will extend the invitation to himself
il be thinks the psyor of the bill for
drinks will stand it. he is usually
dressed in the shabby-genteel style, be-
cause be has an idea that aver a juror
must look halfway respectable SO as to
dispel any suspicion az to his integrity,
which might hang around him did he
present a dirty or ragged appearance.
Your professional juror is not a man
to say much about a case before a jury
has been made up, because he has to
swear as to having formed or expressed
an opinion, etc. He is the most cautious
Of men and avoids everything like argu-
ment as to the merits OF every case. he
listens, smiles, shakes his head and says
something in reply of the most inde6.
mite import. His mind is q blank, upon
which an entire case can be written, aud
then it can be sponged out and made
blank again for the next case. He is
generally, in his own opinion, a pretty
good judge OF law, and feels that none
Of the lawyers or witnesses can fool him
BE has an idea that az a judge Of evi.
dence or Of the credibility Of a witness
he is as good as anybody, on the bench
or of Of it. He does not often appear
around the Chancery Court, for in that
tribunal devoted to equity jurors are
seldom brought into use, consequently
he has. no business hanging around
Chsncery Judges, clerks aud lawyers
He can be always seen around the Law
Courts, for here is the field Of his onerouI
duties and lsbors. To get on the reguls.
panel at the commencement Of ever
term is the height Of his admirable am
bition, but failing in this be still watche
that court with a view to be picked ~
and placed upon some jury when tn
, regular panels are out considering cases
This, however, is but a side speculation
!, and there are no millions in it for him
an occasional two dollars per day ca.
J be picked up in this quiet way. Wher
a deputy sheriff is ordered to summon
jury from the bystanders, you may be
, your last nickel that our friend is Away
, one of the b~ystanders BE catches th
searching eye Of the deputy sheriff, hold
it if possible and tries to charm him int
saying: "Mr. -, take your place o
> the jury" When this joyful expressio
is heard he involuntarily starts, but sci
ties down in a professional way an
walks to his seat in a business.like mar
, ner, his face expressing the following
What is this ell about2 | did not war
. to get on this Jury, but I'm here nov
. so I'll resign myself to my fate" Til
, rsguel he wanted to be there all tn
, time. To accomplish this part wit
tact and success our friend must be we
acquainted with deputy sheriffs, so tba
they will know his name just as well q
their own, and when he raises his eye
!, in search of a juror, those eyes must
necessity dwell upon the man in fror
Of them.
, The great field Of enterprise with th
! professional juror is the Criminal Oour
Here he reigns in triumph, notwithstan'
ing the periodical efforts made by judge
7 to weed him out Of that judicial garden
1t cannet be done; you may put him oil
of the front, but he slips in the bac
way. Lawyers sometimes have despe
ate cases, and the professional juror
the man for them, but how to get on Il
jury is the thing Your profession
juror is always in the way Of the deprI
sherifs when the latter are summonir
%juries. he haunts them, talks to ther
asks them questions, walks with ther
and kindly points out some citizen G
d the street to them if he thinks said eli
zen has escaped the searching eye of Il
officer. Should the officer turn arour
and summon him he at once gives IL
" officer his full name, and walks off pc
fectly satisfied with having accomplish
s. a COED days work. The case may