Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-01-03

iE-JE h>>iCS A. JURORS &C.
Formerly the selection of Jurors for the Criminal
ana Circuit CcGrts Of the District entrusted to
tie United states marshal. and the charge was fire.
quertly made that IN The selection preference was
given 20 men o. one political party. and sometimes
taJ tie preference was given certain set. These
. charges were denied as frequently as they were
made; and Il is fair presume that the marshals OF
the past always eEGelvored TO have good men for
the Jurors Irrespective Of their political prediiec
tons Those who were connected with the courts in
the past refer. with some prize. TO the
JUEIEs oE TEE oLDEN TINE
It is however. not 10 be denied that so frequent
were some faces to be seen on the iuries twenty
years ego or plDra that there was some reason for
the term stereotype jur rs as applied to our
/ courts Il Is questionable n wever. Il it was not
better 70 have some inr' rs Of that class every
p7Qai especially in THO ca ~ part OF each term,
ami some q the ulbe Of the bar know OF in
stances where - e-eo, .e Jurors, have been the
learnei from their previous experience how TO read
the evidence III TIE countenan 'es of witnesses,
and 70 Sanarate the truth from the fasehOod
i i related chat >olne wears ago gentleman who
had ,eTy u at many terms of the Criminal Court
was paced on q jury TO fill vacancy, and that
although the evidence all on the side OF the
government. he insisted that the verdict SHOULD be
n0t guilty. Finely he succeeded in bringing his
e.evcn coI1nau!eoS TO that conclusion. and they
We're c0npiueTttd by the court, who had seen that
the witness led il j said by some members OF the
bar fhst experienced jurors are always the best.
BIt il would be unpopular move TO suggest the
! selection of such Jurors
The I,r relating tie drawing OF Jurors for our
cOffr - 10 te found Oh PAGE 10. Revised Statutes
! rellttn., TO The District OF Columbia.
THE FIRST LAW
TIE subject was approved June 10, 1862. and It
provided that on or before the first day February
OF each year the register o: the city Of Washington.
t!,n clerk OF Georgetown and the clerk Of the levy
court should prepare isis ef Jurors for service In
the courts tht the names sh0Hi bp selected from
the srraral wards OF TIE cites and the three
"a n
ton that the names -hC!lt be written on separate
ana 7i ar pieces OF paper which shall be folded or
rolled 81 that the naInee cannot be seen and placed
IN box; lint tue box should he sealed ana. after
having b"en thoroughly shaken. delivered to the
CLERK OF The court thc at least ten " before each
term OF tlc court the clerk shl puhI ally hre *
TIL 81 II and proceed To draw the requisite number
10 on Tire Jutns-26 ioF the Circuit Court and
the petit jury OF tc Criminal Court and % for the
grand jury oi the latter court: and II any OF those
driw1 are I'D or have removed the clerk shall
draw another nolfe therefor un1er Til, act i1e
NAMES were re,uls'lE
Tl.aCED N TIE BOX
year after yedr-t5J from Washington. 50 from
Georgetown and 70 from the county-by the officers
named 6ut IL 1871 authority was given the SUI
pre1ae Court otthe nstrcr to make the its.the eff
caFS named being laEis.a;3d Out of existence The
COtfi Sj'n" years ago construed the law 70 moan
Ia the act Of pl ic"g the names In the box shall
be io.r' ancOf the commissioners, that the names
SE... IN cny..-5cd and meet the approval OF the
5nlrI and that the wards or divisions having
been ab1!.,hed that 1t was auecess liz that in the
o.C-l7n 0! names the Old DIVISIONS or the District
should BE- Observed
CAREFUL COMMISSIONER
Some Of the Jury commissions ave been exceed
ingIy careful In their selections One OF them made
point 10 take THE nam AMI residence of anv per-
+ n he G5eIa-G 10 no a gJoi nan f0- juror when
ever IT, Saw during his ve1r service. ana Was
( eLt bed when the time came 10 present Unex-
con; Dna list 10 his colleagues Who subsequently
f0i 9,vlj Ms erar-1n1e I'M - mo commissioners.
+ E5vey5E. have not taken 80 much trouble. and IN
some inst rCes. when the Isl Al February was cose
Z rI-r <r,, ,rIr
= furnish n me- for ,leIn. Ia one Instance COM
Il -oaef c'-'l; on a friend i0r h1ty names q good
ald lawful pars and that friend. being suddenly
c}rd lT,iii the CIT. asked Lel2ibor u make the
t-t. This VAS done. and i; WIS trusted 90 another
L tv u hand the commissioner but be forgot to
denver IT, and - that section, for an entire ye!T
vas not represented on any jury. This, i; is said
Is Tie ol-y case o. tiIe kind which has happened.
DRAWING THE SAMES.
So far "a the drawing OF the names from the box
f IS concerned. those Vno have witnessed the pro-
cess s;aCe that nothing can be more fair. This
drawing IS always oiJe in the Clerks Office. When
the assistant, who is TO make the list IL ready the
box = brought out. turuai over and over. aud the
ballots given Thorough shaking. Then the seal IS
bros>.n tn ley Inserted the lock c.tcLs and the
box i opened. i, tie Sip Is Drawn and opened
tse name AID rs derce are read: the assistant
cieTS rec0ri5 the name. and il is carefully IL in
tie Id o. the box tlu the drawing is completed,
when the Slips drawn again Carefully sea sd up
s. >hNU.d tltIl ever b. question a5 10 the LANES
or ruicler drawn the proof IS at hand.
! sr;,N1SlNG TALEsNEN
TIE Inv also pce7crjbes that ii persons selected
do not attend and If By raa son OF challenge Or
otncr cause there are not Sufficient Jurors to naa
UP the pane. the marshal s4Il summons tllesrlnn
~ supply tie ilCIercF. his not iulreu;ently
happens end the marshal 10 obtain the best men
has carefully prepared list tr0I1 which 20 select
2ul IN t> yFo:A - carries ont the theory OF the
Z" never Dlic.lg On his LIST one known TO be seek
ing jury 0Ity There are any such persons t. IL
tCjni. some Of whom arr willing to pay boi.us to
serve tn9ir country Oh 4 Jury.
penalty Of iine Of 81 Is nnOsad for failure Of
iuFor 70 attend wI,hou. good and sufficient raa-
S0I 10Y each and every la 5. Dsence Il IN officer
place. name IL! TIE 5)X =, :le request OF the party
or -;;all D. guilty II fraud and cGlIu,Cn he Shall
% deemed guilty Of m..G1lnedn0r and fined not
!e-s than sLC1 AM imprisoned ior not les jlen
sky usys To- each ot1.E,e- il tue CLERK draw 4
greater number frin the box thln Is REQUIRED. or
~ E1I y Oh Haul OF co-iusi0n similar penalty l.,
imposed
TIE QChLEFEC ATOMS CT A ITRor
are that he Sd IL be citizen @: The United States
resilient C: ta District, over vclty zone and under
siXty-f.ve re,l's o a. and g31t &nI lawful man.
who las never been convicted Of felony or MS
IN nor lnycI-.Iz moral tIGDitIie-
PEns0.;S WHO NAT &c EXCUSED.
Those who may be excused are those wlosa In
terests those o. the pJoc VIII be materially In-
iure- D tieir alton lance. who Is party TO any
act.oa or preceding 70 b. tried at the term for
WHICH ne mas b. summoned or when his Own
n".ttl OF The oeath or ili'aS OF member OF III
idLIy requires his absence. Thy>c Who nave
served within TWO years are also excused
The EXEMPT
2r2 81 executive and 1llcial officers. sallrad OH
GERS i the government; 0. the United states com
mls>7ne-- of police. ana those connected With the
pol 2 and fire department. c0uCselOrS ana attor-
ne-ii3". ministers o. The Cos lcl and priests OF
Every aen0mina Ion, practicn- phv5iciInS ind sur
EeJn5, keeper, o. hospitals ltoy u:L5 ain houses
g-:ler Charitable institutions ~ tied by or Under
the -&"7 relating 70 the District. captains and mas
'.E5 AMI o.nr pa-ools employed yes
sis navigating the waters VI tne bis
tret and keepers OF pubic ferries. II
Viii thus De Sc-n that there IS an eXtraOr-
binary large number OF residents OF tie District who
are eXclnD. non. jury duty under the law and q
dII 20 his a"e those %no preS1 their claims 10 ey-
f1-oH o2 he ground OF business, III health, and
C-.Ier c.lC9-a-
ASKING TO b EXCUSED.
50 general has become the practice OF presenting
p-l's--a- certificate OF dis ,bil!ty to the court
that JuI.e Wylle not long ago remarked that h
ali Eot know bu, that he would require TIE phys
q - % come into court and n Ike oath t. the car
tctf's- II the !erIu5 OF service jIres were not
- -"iE There would be probably on Inc part OF BUS
ls'-~ !i' fewer Gpp.'c8t!On 10 get OF. There ar.
SON" - tnIbe.S OF the bar who state that II tbs
jl:riItE service was limited To one month. and Il
t-3t term "a not come within the busy season:
IL ~ WOULD ,c4rce-y Dc any applications for ex
cCs-.