Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1884-07-25

An Old system Ia which IN Public
Has Lost Confidence.
RUBY HILL, July 81. 1884

y t1 WHICH n tMDHhG
Ha Lost Confidence.
RUBY HILL, July 81, 1884.
Ed. SILVER STATE: The great trial be-
tween the Albion and Richmond Mining
Companies was ended to-day by the jury
rendering q verdict for the Albion for
Sl3,25O. The suit was instituted by the
Albion for $3.50, 900. Result: Richmond
side, jubilsnt; Albion, respondent. During
the trial, which lasted IA days, a scene,
both repulsive and significant, was enacted
-repulsive, because it implied a total abb
sence Of all sense of honor in the men
composing the jury; significant. because it
shows to what depths Of peridious degra-
dation the jury system has fallen, and
points unerringly to the unpslstsble fact
that the rights and liberties of the people
cannot be considered safe, even when en-.
trenched behind our great national bull
wsrk of civil rights, liberty and protection
the jury system and would lead one to
believe that every man carries with him to
the Jurybox an open palm ready TO receive
from the tempter the price of his eternal
damnation. Afearful comment, disgusting
to all right-minded men, humiliating and
notifying to the American citizen. /
allude to the custom put in practice at this
trial OF hiring (it would be more chart
table and oundb better to say ''deputizing")
a force OF men greater in number than the
imPaneled jury to watch the jury, lest the
devil should step in and claim his own by
the right OF purchase. For days the jury
were marched to the restaurant and back to
this annut rOnfp nraaadaA hu ~ ar two
Sheriffs and as many in the rear, fianked
On either side BY q squad of vigilant
watchmen, precisely as is done in the
~msrshaling and marching of q band of
unruly and dangerous convicts TO and from
their work. As straws may indicate the
course OF the wind, so may such scenes in
dictate that time, progress-or retrogres-
sion, az the case may be-has wrought q
change in the national mental condition
necessitating the abandonment Of q system
which Is every day multiplying proofs Of
Its i~nadequacy to meet the wants and
protect the rights Of q mighty and growing
nation.
1t is evidenced by such a scene as we
have just witnessed in Eureka, and by q
multiplicity of others Of q violent nature
from all parts Of the United States, that
thep people have neither confidence in, nor
respect for, the once time-honored Jury
system. Why il this? Not because the
people have become bad per Sc, but because
the national mental condition is not now
what it was rs years ago. 1t has, for
various and obvious reasons too numerous
to enter into here, changed just as other
nations have. and just as they will in the
great future. II our solons will give less
Of time, for which they are so well paid, to
the subject OF self-aggrsndizement, and
turn their attention to this important
topic. much good may come therefrom in
the ~supplanting Of an obsolete and evil
producing system by some enactment that
will meet the wants of the people. restore
confidence, and re-establish law and order.
Our jury system is, to-day, the one great
protection upon which the red-handed
criminal relies upon to escape from the
gallows. 1t is now q recognized fact that
be is in no danger Of his neck 80 long as
he can appeal to sjury. Knight multiply
illustration upon illustration. l have
already taken up too much Of your time
and space; but, in conclusion, let me add
that it was generally remarked upon the
street and elsewhere that the jury in the
present case was composed Of IL as upright
and intelligent men as ever sat in q jury
box In Eureka county. and yet, in conse-
quence Of q total want OF confidence in the
jury system, for IA days, they were sus-
pected as men devoid Of honor. F. j. M.