New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-06-05
HOW JURIES ARE MADE UP.
uo>rcr AMI DISHONEST METHODS.

IN TIE CHOICE OF JURIMEN
Tn the office of a prominent criminal lawyer of
this city TRIBUNE reporter recently noticed,
among multitude of large white envelopes thrown
loosely on desk in the haste and confusion of NOV
ing day. two packages one labeled Bogus Bonds
men, and the other Jury Fixers" The law
yer had had considerable experience in the
District Attorneys Office and the reporter
readily understood how he might be well
informed in regard to that large class of men who
make money by going on bonds for bonus, and
who are known as bogus boDdsmen," but he was
at loss to know the full meaning, though he part
~ guessed 1t correctly, of the term Jury FlXers,
and so nc asked what it meant. An incredulous
gaze the first response to his inquiry, and he
was forced to protest his innocence OF the meaning
of the term before the lawyer could be brought to
explain.
"a Jury fxer,p said the lawyer at last. " is
necessity of the rascals in the profession, and the
dread of every honest lawyer who goes TO jury In
an important case on its merits solely"
is the jury fxer' of the profession, them"
"Yes and no. In that envelope are the names and
histories of the Jury fxers in the rascally sense
But there jury txers' who are honest men ana
who work openly. You know the system IN vogue
of empancling a jury in this cityf Well, one
month before service is demanded Of them panel
of l2j citizens is drawn by the Commissioner Of
Jurors in New-York and the same by the COmmls-
sioner of Jurors In Brooklyn, for each court to be
held in either county. Thus jurors to serve the
first week in May drawn during the first week
III April and so on. They serve one week and from
the 10 called three four petit jurles of twelve
each may be obtained. In ordinary cases involving
little money or principle or character, the first
twelve men called usually accepted without
question: but in important cases where the amount
q, call cd
by the Court and exacted by the lawyers on both
sides. 1t in such only that the honest and
the dishonest Jury fixers' appear"
CANvAssING A PANEL
The lawyer turned to his desk and took out q
small yellow book. which he handed to the reporter
with the remark, There is jury I've just been
fixing" and left the room. The reporter had only
time to observe that the book was an ordinary
index book with rulings for dates, dollars and
cents and with about five or six pages to each let
ter of the aphabet-such is used by collectors
and others in ordinary business transactions-when
the lawyer returned with similar book. but larger
in size and with more leaves TO each letter. Hand
ing II TO the reporter he remarked there's the
Jury that was fixed to convict Tweed" ! he re-
porter had seen that book when 1t figured IL the
famous trial. and knew something OF It's history,
and was now eager To learn more.
1t frequently happens" resumed the lawyer,
" that the trIa of a cause depends entirely on the
y
great faculty III the selection OF jury VINO nave
a secret sort of reputation among the profession Tor
doing that work, and who are often retained solely
to select Jury. ! could name sou score OF such
TO whom the members Of the profession turn when
they either want to secure corrupt Jury or 10 pre-
vent the other side from securing one go
:" suppose YOU don't want 10 name themT
"Thev would not object TO being uamed they
would regard it as complimentary and beneficial II
they were mentioned as experts III jury hXlng.
Suppose we take the honest method first. The
counsel III a case 0t sulhcent importance 10 maxi
the fixing of jury vital polnI, ana VINO Uher-
fore fears that the opposing counsel Will Try 10 90
it, first of all selects his associate who Is To mpane!
The Jury with regard to his local knowledge OF
men A score of considerations may affect this
selection TO begin with. In the famous case Oh
| Tweed where everything depended on the selection
of an honest uryfor there was no evidence for the
defence-the counsel who was selected 10 lnpanel
the Jury was a prominent, lifelong politician, mo
kneT almost every ring learn be relations to the
ring of every obscure man called 10 serve on tue
iurV The man selected by Tweed TO TX jury lot
him was a Custom House Othcer-and hepuD-
| hcanW
Evidently the lawyer expected the reporter to be
surprised. He wasn't ID the least. .,.:.
Besides these local and political CONSIDERATIONS
| others are involved. 1t often happens that the
habits of Jurors to temperance and their relations
| 10 women have 10 be known beforehand. A other
tunes the religious sentiments and the churcn mem
hership of the entire panel have 10 be investigated
| The business OF juror Is highly important tAlng
to know. suppose the case al issue Involves HHau-
cal questions III which brokers and bankers may be
| interested. and which they may have uXed pTln-
| cinl,s or Drciudlces one side may wish TO avoid
having any, and the other may desire TO secure as
| many bankers and brokers a. possible on the jury
IL hundreds of IL is highly important 10 know
If Juror l. landlord tenant, boss" or Journey
man. The business and social relations OF the panel
to either lit giant must be inquired INTO O1teu ma
tIOnat Is q serious question: residence Is another
| often the availability OF man beng determined ny
| the locality IN which he lives Now take any page
of that yellow book, andIead of the name and what
is written underneath H. mat is the actu4I panel
inst fD sII ffeII
lvn and from II jury OF twelve honest men vas OBJ
| tanned without much trouble. Only substitute III
| your notes fictitious names II you please
HOW THE RECORD OF JURlEs Is KEPT.
| TIE reporter read:
| JAMES ". JoHNsrOS No. - Van Bruntst
k.-IoOr IcueMeut-hOu-e.
B.-Bulder. Mason. working by the day 60 -
C.-MAsued with four children Out OF work for the
R.-Nonc Belongs to no church. Not r. c.
N.-Amencan. Came from south.
H.-Drinks but not TO excess.
"ThaJ report Is readily understood by the Jury
fxer' The honest lawyers don't want that man
they know the other side does-if it is dishonest
mean. r. means residence, and it is the neighbor-
hood which is poor, not the man, and he lives III a
| tenement-house b means his business as put
down on the jury roll and in the directory; but IN
vestigaion shows that he either dishonesty or out
| of vanity reported himself a builder. when, IN
! fact he Is either stono-masou or bnckiayer-a
skilled laborer only, not man employing Others.
| IL very often happens that an employer, however
| small his business may be acceptable, whue the
laborer is Objectionable. &C.. means his social con-
dition and mental relations. R. means Te-
| linon. This man had none specially IL was
| man Catholic. NJ is nationality. Ameri-
! cans are the most desirable because less clan
nsh. Jews. the most undesirable, and next TO them
| the IRISH for the opposite reason they are invan-
| ably ciannlsh. p. refers TO politics. and H. 10
| habits and the notes explain themselves You viii
| find on other pages additional remarks, after
| other names, but the usual canvass OF man
named on the panel which l. Obtalnable
| two weeks in advance Of the day on which
| they are summoned TO appear embraces these
general points Wher reports Oh all the 10 are IN