Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1883-06-14
THE STAR ROUTE JURY.
6rAnTLlNG INCIDENT In THE TRIAL.
One OF the Jury Suffering from Drink Fails
TO the F1ooH-KeturDlng for New

L s-~~ ~AVOk-1S0SUHnsnk AoX SNO"
Instruction..
The members of the jury that failed t.
convict the Star Route ring on its frs
trial were accused by the prosecution O
having been bribed by the defense, ani
the defendants in return averred that tn,
government had offered bribes for thei
conviction. the trial ended in filthy
cloud OF damaging assertion and smirche6
reputation.
Whatever may be the result of the
cause given to the jury, Wednesday, it i.
thought that the verdict will be regarded
with suspicion by the country. One o
the Jurors, Mr.. Vernon, proprietor of q
tavern in South Washington, has beer
under the influence of liquor during the
greater part of the trial. Deprived of hi
customary stimulant for twenty hours
while the jury was confined in the second
story OF the court house, he collapsed and
Wednesday morning fell in a fit at the foot
of the bench.
Judge Wylie came into court at 1915
O'Clock. The room then was we'll filled
with people, among them being the dc
PENDANTS, tho counsel, members OF the
district bar and several ladies. Criel
donaldson was sent By the judge to the
jury room to learn if any agreement had
been reached, and he reported that none
had been found, but that one juryman was
unwell and that another wished instruc-
tlons from the court on a portion of the
evidence. After some delay tho Judge
directed the bailiff to bring tho jury into
court to decide for them the question
raised by Mr.. Harrison, the inquiring
juror. In . short time the jury filed
slowly into the court room. The third
man in the line was Vernon, weasen
faced, shrivelled up, besotted specimen of
humanity. He tottered along rather than
walked, and as no reached his chair
stopped. threw his arms in the air, groaned
heavily several times, and, springing
| around on his heel, fell heavily to the
floor. He struck his head upon a chair
which seemed to partially stun him, and
he lay for a moment beating his feet
against the floor.
Great confusion prevailed in the court
room. Women uttered dainty little
screams, and one of them. half fainting
had to be assisted out. The bailiffs
shouted "Order," one fellow screamed
"give him air." MIR. Merrick quietly oh.
served "give him whisky" while Colonel
lngersoll asked, SIS there doctor in the
room?" "Dr. Sewers is here" howled a
chap in the rear of the room, and the
doctor came forward. II think-hum-
that the juror had belter-hum-be taken
ont of the court-hum-room," drawled
tho judge, and three strong men picked
Vernon up and carried him into an ad.
joining chamber. There was an interval
of a few moments, broken only by the
hum of conversation and tho sounds of the
men working over the drunkard in the
next room. The judge, the court attend
ants and the attorneys on both sides un-
derstood the case. Many of the spectators
believed the man had suffered a stroke of
apoplexy.
In q few moments the doctor reported
that Vernon had recovered, and then the
judge enlightened everybody in the court
rooms as to the mans condition. He said ::
81 have good deal of doubt in nv mind
in regard to the consequences OF this oc
currence. This man las been drinking a
great deal. He is hard drinker During
the progress of the trial on one occasion I
took him aside and gave him pretty
sharp admonitiOn. He promised to ab.
stain, but have observed from his an
pearance for several days past that he had
resumed his hard drinking, aud suppose
that being confined in the jury room, cut
of from his supplies for that time, has
brought about this result. l don't know
what it is-delirium tremens or mania
pOtu-but he is not fit to be on tho iury
now. 1 suppose the doctor will give him
a>prescription, and it probably will be
brandy or whisky"
One of the haiIiffs exclaimed that Yer.
non had been given couple of drinks.
MIR. Merrick said that..he supposed what.
ever doctor prescribed for juror could
be taken by him. ''Oh undoubtedly. un-
doubtedly," said Judge Wylie. "But
attacks of this kind are apt to leave the
mind in SO shattered a condition as to
create difficulty DR.. Sewers then ap
peared at the door and reported, "he is all
right now." "TheD," said Judge Wylie.
1.-THE jury can come back" and thoy re-.
received some new instructions from the
judge and then retired again.
A feeling of deep disgust prevailed
after the court adjourned. Ono juror had
been proven practically unfit to discharge
bis duties, another had made ridiculous
display of his ignorance. 1t was freely
averred that if the jury should ultimately
return a verdict of guilty that Vernon's
condition would be sufficient ground to
warrant the defense in asking that the |
verdict be set aside. Tho fact that the
attorneys on both sides agreed that DR..
Sewers should give the man medical at
and that his condition was fully
understood by both the prosecution and |
the defense, seemed to settle this ohiec |
tion.
Mr.. Ker said that the fact that counsel
for the defense did not object to the com.
position of the jury after Vernon's condi-
ton was ascertained, and that they ac-
lulesced in the suggestion of the Judge az
70 his medical treatment, debarred them
rom future objections on this score. MIR.
denkle, of counsel for the defense, said
hat if verdict of guilty was rendered it
would be good ground on which to set
The verdict aside. A prominent LAWYER.
not connected with the case, said that the
alleged impaired condition of tho Jurors
mind was fatal to the verdict of the iurv.
,. . For you see" ceRtinued the barrister.
- it is just as if one of the jury had died.
mental death is just tho same as a
death in such case, for the law
'ays defendant shall be tried by twelve
competent men," Mr.. .Dayidge, of tho
License, was asked what effect the scene
court this morning would have on the
'erdict, should there be one, and replied.
None whatever" Mr.. Merrick said that
Mr.. Vernon's condition could not affect
ne validity OF any verdict that the jury
night render: Mr.. George A. King, a
yell knowr-: of Washington, who is q.
lot interested in the case, said that
'nless it could be proved that Vernon:s
ondltion was such that he could not com.
'rehend the testimony, nor take an intel
gent part in the deliberations of the iurv
rs use OF alcoholic liquors could not in .