The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1882-01-20

in the summoning of the panel, no beneti-
ial change can be hoped for. The trials
referred to in Philadelphia, where the
Times of that city joined vigorously in the
movement to effect the conviction of Jury
lixers' and with success, will undoubtedly
have the effect of purify ing the system in
the City of Brotherly Love, and what is now
needed is "A salutary lesson, of like
character, in other portions of the
county. The man who gets improperly on
to a jury ought to be made an example of
above all other offenders, and if closer OBJ
seryancc were made of violations of the law
in this particular here and everywhere it
would be but a short time before good re-
suits would be perceptible in conscien.
tious discharge of duties now rarely seen.
There is no power in the government so po-
tent and that so thoroughly permeates all
departments of life as this same jury and
while attending to reforms and crime in
most every other quarter it is the rankest
suicidal policy to neglect needed consider
alton in the perfection of the jury system. A
few days ago Chicago judge peremptorily
dismissed the ordinary panel known to be
composed largely of cour hangers-on ana
professionals and had summoned "a jury of
intelligent business men. The result was
astonishing. More criminals were tried
and convicted and in less time than had
ever been witnessed at any previous court,
and the criminals in the Jail and all others
with pending cases in that court, were
stricken with terror and clamor Gus for
continuanccs. We suggest these cases to
the consideration of those in our midst who
have the selection and summoning of panels
and advise imitation once in awhile of
the conduct OF the Chicago court OH.
Gals. In Philadelphia, many prominent law
ycrS allege that for the past fifteen years
in that city not single jury has been
drawn in which all of the twelve were
honest men. This is more than likely the
case in other and numerous cities and
towns, and the necessity for publication of
the system is apparent at once. Watchtu-
ness on the part of the authorities and in
yestigaton infinitely of each suspicious out
cropping will prevent these frauds upon,
and corruption of, public justice. When
outsiders and officials and the press know
that the facts of u case warrant other than
the verdict returned, it may safely be in.
terred that there is something "rotten in
Denmark" and those charged with the
administration of the laws should find out
what it is and who is responsible for it.
Where the power exists in one
man to say who shall or who
shall not sit upon the jury in the
various causes it is possible for him if he be
so disposed to manipulate its composition
in the interest OF his friends, perhaps, as is
often the case, the very men who elected
him to Office whether they be attorneys
representing their clients or parties to the
suit In this event the verdict is virtually
by the man or men selecting the
jury, whether Sheriff or Deputy or Com
missioner. This fact is undoubtedly in
nine cases out of ten the cause of this "glo-
rious uncertainty" OF the law. The remedy,
therefore, would seem to be in the deyising
and adoption Of some plan whereby incor-
ruptible aud intelligent men could be Sc
cured as arbitcrs in all these trials, and the
power be as far removed as practicable from
the possibility of abuse in the selection of a
jury by any ole or more men. The lives
and property ofour citizens are of too great
moment to be ieopardizcd by any other
than course of the tairest and most Impair
tial Justice.