Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1883-04-14
MUDDLING A JURY.

W, Sdlu tIle Olu SeHtleuldl, Tile
volumes of law reports are full of them.
Just now recall a singular instance
that happened while l was in England.
One day In January 1867, prominent
English merchant was walking along
busy street in London, when young
man stepped in front of him and stabbed
him to the heart. Immediately the
murderer turned and fled before hand
could be raised to stay him. leaving his
knife In the body of his victim. l wish
to lay emphasis upon the fact that this
occurred in bread daylight, and that at
least 20 people were eye witnesses to the
stabbing. You understand fully%
"We do" said the gentlemen present.
Every good The best talent in
ton, and after a lapse of about five
derer had been captured in Belgium.
Without delay the prisoner was brought
to London and tried. He said that he
obscure young barrister was assigned
by the court to conduct the defense. The
attorney for the Crown was one of the
most famous lawyers in Great Britain.
OF course the court room was crowded
on the day of the trial. Criminal trials
and bull fights are all thai our 10Th CEN
fury civilization can offer in lieu of the
ancient sports of the arena. Both forms
of amusement pander to an mate de-
pravity that will die only with the hui
man race" After this bit Of cynicisD
the narrator refreshed himself with a
fragment of adamantine plug tobacco
and then continued:
"The opening speech for tho prOsecu-
ton was brief and to the point"
"A rare merit in lawyers speeches."
murmured the Stars representative.
Precisely" he replied; "fOr models of
terseness and perspicuity we go to the
space work of green reporters. The
crown attorney said that Lewis
Aksrton, the prisoner, had been a clerk
in the employ of Mr.. Piers0n, the de-
ceased merchant. and had been dis
charged few weeks before the murder
for dishonesty. At tho time OF his dis
missal the prisoner earnestly declared
his innocence of offences charged
against him, and warned Mr.. Piersen
that he would one day regret what the
prisoner called'this mOnstrous Injustice
1t was in revenge for his summary and,
as he asserted, unfair discharge, that
AkertOn had killed his old employer.
After setting forth these facts, prOmis-
ing to establish them by the best of evil
dence, and informing the jury that he
felt justified in asking verdict of muir
der in the first degree, the crown att0r-
ney ended his speech and called first
witness"
Didn't he say anything about the sa
cred duty of the jury in protecting s0cie
ty from such wretches as the prisOnerp
Was there no word of eulOgy for the high
position and unblemished character of
the deceased? No narrowing portrayal f
his family's grief" queried the reporter.
mo, sir; nothing of the sort. The
passions, prejudices, and emotions OF the
jury were spared They Were to consid-
or only law and evidence, but, by George!
There the narrator slapped his knee and
spoke in tragic whisper] the train of
proof forged by the crown was terrible,
sir, terrible" The old gentleman repre-
sented the chain by bringing the ends
of his fore-fngerS impressiyely together.
"AkertOn's discharge, his quarrel with
Mr.. PiersOn, his words of warning, and
finally the murder, Git is impossible for
the types to convey an idea of the en-
phasis put upon this awful world were
proven, apparently, beyond all shadow
of doubt. Eyewitness after eyewitness
swOre with great p0si;iveness that the
prisoner was the man who had been
seen to stab MIR. Pierson. The cross
examination of the prisoners counsel
which was confined almost entirely to
the question of identity, failed to weak
EN- the overwhelming testimony against
the accused. At last, when he had CON-
pleted his work, and, as he believed,
made the strongest possible case against
the defendant, the crown attorney re-
sumed his seat with self-satis6ed air,
and there was a moment OF lntermlS-
sion before the young barrister arose to
address the court on behalf of AkertOn."
Here the venerable narrator paused,
and drawing from his pocket respecta-
bIe orange cOlOred bandana, blew his
nose with sound like the echOing horn
Of Harlem shad vender.
"Of course the prisOners'S attorney at
to show that his unfortunate
client was suffering from paroxysmal
Insanity when he removed his ex-bOss,"
said the Star reporter.
You're off again, youngster," respond
ed the old man. 80 Tar from that, tAe !
counsel said that he had a |
reauest to make-a singular request,
but which he hoped the court would |
grant, as means of doing justice TO the
prisoner. The court replied that 1T
would allow the prisoner every 0pp0rtu-
1ity for establishing his defense. Ihen,
your Honor, / ask that my cllept, proper
v guarded, be permitted to 60 into your
Honor's private room, and that ne be &C
,ompanied thither by your Honor, the