Smyrna times., 1882-06-14

! y
have several times been compelled
to serve my country and State in tbe
capacity ofajuror, both Grand and Petit
out never but once served on iury that
could not reason intelligently together
and agree on a verdict. On the Occa.
sloA to which / refer, the jury con.
sisted OF twelve seemingly intelligent
men, mostly farmers, who are usually
practical men and generally regarded
as entirely reliable, and when they
render verdict, it is generally accepted
as being strictly in accordance with
the law and the evidence in the case
The case was one confined to very
narrow limits and yet it occupied the
attention of the court and jury about
four days. The evidence on the part
of the plaintiff was rather of q positive
character, while that on the part of
the defence was mostly rebuttle
ana very conflicting, SO much so that
1t was thought there would he no diff
Guilty OF the twelve men. good and true
coming to an agreement within an
hour. The counsel on both sides made
the best argument they could for their
side and the Judge made his charge 80
plain and lucid that left no room to
doubt what the verdict of the iurv
should be. The case was then given
to the jury, but before retiring to their
room for deliberatiOn, the Judge being
q klnd-heaFted and copsiderate man,
permitted them first to get their din
ner and lucky it was for the Jury, as the
events that transpired subsequently,
proved. The case was given to the
jury about O'Clock p. NJ, who wrestled
with it all that afternoon and night and
finally disagreed, because three unrea-
sOnlng and obstinate juryman could
not get nine of their fellow w-members to
agree with them. We were all locked
in large comfortable room and the
Judge instructed the bailif to keen us
confined without food, which was not
the most comfortable reflection for men
who were accustomed to eating three
square meals daily However, that
was the mandate of the Court and
must be obeyed. Some of the Jurors
soon felt hungry and began To contem.
plate supper, while others were quite
indifferent and were satisfied to abide
the issue, till breakfast the next morn
ing. They all seemed good natured
and jolly and frequent attempts at wit
were iRdulged in.
The room in which we were confined |
was well ventilated, having three win
dows, stove and thirteen chairs, and |
long table with pens, ink and paper,
with which the writer amused himself |
in writing this article, while others !
amused themselves in various wavs.
A large chandelier hung from the cell
ing; 4 fire was made in the stove and
lounges ana easy chairs were placed at |
the disposal of the feehler members of
the jury while the more stalwart were
left to rest their weary limbs on the
soft side of hard floor or prop them
selves back in Windsor chair. head
resting against the wall, dreamly re-
tlecting on their deserted hearth stones
and the absent loving ones at home
Various subjects We're discussed among
which was one introduced by the fore
man which seemed TO elicit more or
less interest. AS an inducement to
the three disagreeing Jurymen to
agree with the nine. four story brick
house located i'm Shipley street, with
its pleasurable occupants and luxur-
iOus appointments was presented for
their consideration, but their absence
from home had been too short to in
dupe their enjoyment of the luxuries
therein contained and presented. Card
playing, by some of the jury and the
bailiff in charge were indulged in as
pastime, while others looked on with
more or leSa interest. The foreman in
quired how many of the jury were
members of church choir, with a
view of having some music, while
another replied he didn't suppose there
was one, and that perhaps the foreman
was the only member of any church,
which was quietly assented to. The
price of wheat was discussed, the peach
prospect, sugar beet culture, tomatoe.
and the cabbage crop, while the turnip
crop was generally agreed to be a fail
ure and sour crout would be scarce and
price high. A motion was made by
one of the disagreeing members to ad-
Iourn to Fulmer's which was promptly !
seconded by one Of the ninei hotiing !
That an agreement was reached. The !
motion was carried but the adjourn
nent did not follow. The town clock
struck seven and the hour of bed time !
was suggested. One member, as he $
ay on the lounge, was asked how he I
was feeling. He replied he was feeling
very much like being "to hon." A spy
glass was brought into the room to view
,he scenery from the window locking '
towards the Delaware riyep, and the t
extension of FoHrth street to the river. s
md the great advantage to accrue to s
me city OF Wilmington was generally
admitted, The clock stFuck eight,
Nhen II was agreed to have sup
per, each member ordering what !
ms appetite seemed most to relish.
while supper was being prepared. card
playing was resumed by portion of .
he jury while others settled down to
realization of 1--WE won't go home s
ill morning."
When supper arrived and was set on !
me table, the scene presented was
nost agreeable and Inviting, Beef j
TEAK, MED oysters, stewed and raw
Ie Gods how the down countrymen
ild go for them and well they might,
or everything was we'll cooked and
iuly appreciated. Oysters formed the n
next subject for discussion and it was r
inaliy decided that Morris river We're
ne. best relished. observation was q
made by one of the members locking q
out of the window, who remarked he i
guessed we would have the moon with $
u.s.. This was a mooney member who Y
believed In planting corn an the
light and potatoes on the dark of the
moon, As the clock on the Town Hall '
would strike the lraura of night each
was noted, and some one member would b
Indicate how many we yet had to re- n