Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-10-15
SCENES IN A JURY.RooNI.
Thirty Hours Spent with BOccacio-
Euchre, SEVENTH, and Row.


Up to the third ballot everything was
going along swimmingly. with the pros
pect of a speedy verdict. Before taking
another ballot, however, il was
suggested that the jury get some sleep.
There were eleven chairs and two tables.
The room was lily ventilated and the
comforts were COnspicuOusly absent.
Those who were inclined to sleep rolled
in on the d0wny sides of the tabIe-tODs.
while those frivOlOusly inclined played
poker or SeVen-uD," and spiced the
monotony by experience revelations and
fairy stories. The only individual who
manifested Obstinacy was Juror Mason.
who declared himself for manslaughter
first, last and all the time, going so far as
TO assert positively that he intended to
stick till hell frOZe over"
II being impossible to sleep, the third
ballot was taken, which was lost to the
hrst degree two votes and gave two in ia
vOr Of acquittal. Mason and another Juror
stuck TO manslaughter. At noon the jury
went to dinner, and in their agitated con-
dltlOn sought sOlace in a generous diet of
watermelon. 1t was too much. and an
hour or two later their tender stomachs
reNOlted, and about , O'Clock half of them
were sick, two Of the invalids, Graham
ana Virgins, being in serious condition.
From this began the tribulations Of the
termelon, and to this succulent fruit Ed
ward VI. Nasey owes his life. The mel
Ons were not ''dosed:'' none of the Jury
lntimated that. but rather attribute the
internal agitation they created to a pig
lsh desire to ill up While the opportunity
presented itself.
Another ballot was suggested. and the
poor sick things craWled up to the hat
deposited their ballots and crawled back
H. 81.
were getting interesting. Tired of play
ing cards, and having exhausted Doc
caccIo," and the "HeptamerOn. :" they
were inclined to be ill-natured In fact
they were becoming belligerent. Wig
gins, young man with golden hair and
a head full of sense, began to loom up
among the patriarchs. He showed force
OF character and conscientious convic-
ton that he was there to 'stick." and
''stick" he would Though the heavens
lall.' Every juror was argumentative-
every juror except Graham, who would
nave been could he have stood on his
legs lOag enough. Things waXed
warmer and warmer. and in order to
have little light on disputed points the
jury Med down stairs into the court room.
About an hour and half later the Judge
sent them back with the desired Informal
ton, which was to the effect that the pen
altles for the respective degrees were SO
and SO. Immediately on returning the
NTH ballot was taken. and to the conster-
nation of what was left of the majority,
i've stampeded over upon the side of mans
slaughter, making the figures nine to
three in favor of a light sentence The
three remaining were Hutchinson. Smith
and Virgins. When Virgins had recOY-
cred his brSath he charged the five who
had gone over with weakness, and init
mated that the agitation of the prisoner.
who had confronted them in the room be-
low, had worked upon their sympathies.
You're liarw calculated Living
stock, the barber, rising to the altitude of
his 5-teet size, you're nittin at me and |
can lick YOU
Had there been pound Of dynamite
discharged in the room it couldn't have
created as much confusion as was created
by the words of this juror.
Il am no liar" responded Virgins.
land if this insult is repeated I'll appeal
to the court!'
appeal and be BANKED, you red-head-
ed lOater! You mean me and | can lick
you. and we might as we'll as have it
OUT" howled the irate manipulation of
the razor and strop, as he forthwith be-
gan to peel his coat and shed his collar
and crayat.
BY this time the jurors. the sick and
well, gathered around the belligerents IN
anticipation of an artistic "mill." The
gentlemen who had been the worst inva-
lids, forgetting their ills, were skipping
around in their glee while the more Sc
date mounted chairs and prepared to view
the imminent conflict from safe and ele-
waited distances.
I'm sick man myself" eXpostulated
Virgins, removing the barber's fist from
the immediate proximity OF his nose, "and
I'm not a'gOing to fight
IF you don't fight now I'll catch YOU
out on the street, then I'll wipe you up"
was the confident reply of the barber.
Ballot after ballot followed this exciting
episode, with no change until the twenty
third ballot was taken.
''Ain't you goin' to gree" pleaded the
foreman, sick unto madness.
''NO, we amt" was the reply.
''All right said the sick man; Pm
goin' to sleep, and if l wake up dead in
the morning you will be responsible for an
old mans DEATH"
Cant help that; were sworn to do our
duty and were dOingit. That man Vasey
is guilty of murder"
On the twenty-fOurth ballot there was
still one obstinate man, who had crawled
up on a shelf and settled down to sleep
despite the appeals of his companions.