The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-01-29
JURORS FINES.
NETTING OF THE BOARD FOR THEIR ENFORCE
MENr-THE PRACTICE OF ExEMPTNa CON-

NETTING OF THE BOARD FOR THEIR ENFORCE
MENr-THE PRACTICE OF ExEMPTINa CON-
DENIED.
meeting Of the board for the enforcement OF jury
nnes was held in the ONCE OF the Commissioner Of
Jurors yesterday afternoon for the purpose Of taking
into consideration the developments regarding
the excusing OF persons from jury duty on the pay
ment by theU of $50 70 tho Commissioner. The men,
bsrs OF the board were-Cniei Justice Davis, OF the
Supreme Court Chief Justice Curtis OF the Superior
Court; Chief Justice Daily, OF tho Court OF Common
Pleas; Chief Justice Shea, OF the Marine Court |;
Recorder Haokett, Judges Sutherland and
Gilderslecve, and Mayor Ely. The meeting was
virtually private, the Board assembling IN the small
private Office Of Commissioner Dunlap, whore there
scarcely room enough for tho members TO sit
down, while the guardian at the outer door OF the
Office denied admtauce TO all members OF the press
Under these circumstances mild protest was drawn
up and having been signed by several reporte RS WAS
directed to Chief Justice DAVIS. TINS elect
modifying the order Of exclusion nasmuch as the
IRON which place It almost impossible to derive
any idea as 10 what was transporting in the inside
apart ment
The Board was organized by the selection Of Chief
Justice Davis for Chairman and Judge Gidcrsccve
Secretary During the discussion which arose on tho
question OF the Commissioner OF Jurors receiving
moneys from persons who wished 10 be excused from
doing jury duty for one year tho members OF the
Board who EXPRESSED themselves on tie subject all
spoke deprccaungly OF the practice, which they con-
sidered OF doubtful legality. Judge Sutherland said
ne Ind not known until recently that sucn practice
existed, and was quito surprised whom no heard OF H.
Commissioner Dunlap gave the Board u succinct nc
count OF the circumstances undcr which such moneys
wero always received as hnes; that Tho custom had
boon commenced under ono OF ms predecessors, and
hao been kept up during The past thirty years
The Board also heard statement from cx-Deputy
Com missioner OF Jurors Gunther X Ackcrman, IN
which he explained mat the practice OF receiving mos
had extended over period OF many years, ana that
parties freq uenly, on being nned Tor enhance,
instead Of going into court and paying such lines would
call and pay them into the office OF tho Commissioner
OF Jurors hey had. hc said tried 10 get the soard
together times In order that tho question
be passed upon, but always without success. In an
swer to question by ono OF the members Mr. Acker-
called al tho Commissioners Office to pay II no more
than $50 was received. Another member of the Board
SAID that he had, on looking over the books, found
the entry Of payment OF $500 by Mr. Could, but this
was explained as having taken place unucr Commis.
siouer Taylor Mr. Ackerman proceeded 70 state that,
as a rule iorty out OF seventy Jurors suspended Will
bring legal excuses In response to the question Of
wnet becomes OF tho fines Mr. Alderman said that
out Of them wore paid all the expenses OF the oIcc
including cicrk nire, printing, &c, aud that the bal
ance turned over to the city treasury. He read
from tho CODE which states that tho Commits
siOncr shal collect all fines and pena les and shall
pay all the expenses thcrelrom He also said that The
amount received from such nnes averaged about
$4,000 annually.
Recorder Hnckett said II time something should
be done 10 stop the practice and offered the following
resolution, which was seconded by Chief Justice
DAY.
Resolved That the opinion OF this Board the practice
OF performance oil duty by the
without authority In law and In thc opinion
Of this Board should DO abandoned by the Commissioner
OF Jurors
On motion the Board adjourned until next Tuesday,
At three T. NJ.