New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-07-03
THE .JrRy FRAUDS ONCE MORE.


The latest contribution which we publish as
part of The TRIBUNEs exposure of the abuses
of the jury system of this county is the story
of former city official familiar with the work
ing of the law. 1t is not pleasant reading. If
it were not on so serious subject 1t would De
grotesque. But to any person who has Inc
least lingering faith that there is such thing
as even-handed justice" in this particular
corner of the globe it will be regarded as
almost incredible. The narrator of the facts
indeed regarded it in the light of well deserved
satire on the men who go to law, and we sus-
pect that many who are free from the rough
bondage of litigation will he OF his humor,
but what he says is admirably adapted to make
reformers out of all honest lltigants and law
yers, too From these statements 1t appears
that the Judges are unable actually and care
fully to supervise the drawings of the many
panels for the various courts that the other
officials required by law to perform the same
duty delegate it to deputies that the work is
done in a pro toyma manner without care or
canton against fraud; and that unauthorized
hangers-on of the Commissioners Office and
corrupt deputies of the Sheriff frequently COM
NIT frauds in serving the notices.
1t will at once be remarked by the reader
of this statement that the law is too cumber-
some for proper operation. The making up of
the list of persons liable to jury duty in this
county is of itself task too Onerous for any
one Commissioner to attempt and consequent
ly the Commissioner of Jurors has to employ
many ass stants. The hearing of excuses is
duty imposed OF the same officer Of course
he cannot personally perform it, and must trust
to subordinates who, having the power to ex-
cuse men from jury duty, may exercise that
power improperly, without the knowledge of
the chief of the bureau. The law i'll this way
opens the door to corruption.
Certain Judges are required to supervise the
monthly drawings of jurors. They do not,
probably because they cannot, examine every
ballot put in or drawn from the wheel or bal
lOt-box, and subordinate officers on whom
the duty devolves can commit almost any
nature of fraud in the drawing.
The details given of the method by which
the subpGna-servers levy blackmail upon the
Jurors drawn is not a new feature of these ex-
posures, but it is told in q way which throws
new light upon the system and the peculiar
abuses to which it has been subjected. The
ItSull Is lHC ilfiOhlhhi VI '"' ''A
barrassment of the courts and expense to the
county.
What is to be the outcome of this daily in
creasing abuse7 Or what is the remedy to be
applied? We confess that one question is as
difficult to answer as the other. But one thing
is clearly apparent-if there is to be a reform
of the administration of justice in our local
courts the Jury fxers," the corrupt clerks, the
unlicensed lawyers, the bogus bondsmen, and
the rascally subpGna-servers must be driven
from the places in which they now thrive, by
the force of public Indignation and the prompt
action of honest judges and reputable lawyers
who have the honor of the profession at heart