Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1885-03-27
Mistellaneoms.
IN THE JURY BOX.

Perhaps there is no time in the life Of
an active business man when he is more
tempted to rave at his clerks, stamp
with rage, and utter curses loud aud
deep, than at the moment ho runs up
against little piece Of paper properly
signed and countersigned and endorsed
Jury summons The unfortunate TO-
cipient OF this upwelcomo insignia Of
citizenship grasps his hat, rnsbes wildly
from his Office. makes his way rapidly
over to the Court House and stalks de.
jectedly into the court room whore the
summonsin peremptory terms announces
his presence us being required" He
is somewhat consoled when he cspies his
friend, aud bis business competitor g.,
both OF whom, as no rightly concludes,
are for the once his brothers in misfars
tune.
Scattered about tho court room are
perhaps fifty men Of various nationali-
ties and ages They aro all jurors id
embryo. aud are waiting for tho Judge
10 open the court When His Honor
appears aud takes his scat on the bench
tliirty-lvc out Of tho fifty men get in a
row. filing Indian fashion up 70 and
from the judicial bench, whisper all sorts
Of excuses and touching stories of domcs-
tic affection aud financial peril into the
sympathiziug judicial right ear.
1t is plain to be sepn that each ono Of
the thirty-dye is carefully considering
how he eau best attain the object which
they all scck-viz, immunity from the
jury box. Many Of the excuses arc
frivolous, some are legitimate and not q
few are palpably "trumped up" Some
times a jorot is excused upon his 'iaeps
statement Of fact, but as q rulo they arc
sworn to answer such questions as shall
be put to them by the judge touching
their right to be excused. The judicial
examiner probes the anxious applicant
sternly.
Once bound down 10 tho jury box the
juror becomes the type Of a class lie
is no longer broker. u merchant.
bank president or soloon Keeper His
natural identity is lost, and be is part
and parcel of The machinery Of justice
To be sure, he eats and sleeps like other
men, but then he thinks aud acts only
like juror. His status is not firmly
established, however. until he begins 10
develop peculiarly This done. he
becomes an object Of interest, especially
to tho lawyers.
The characteristics Of jurors are dis
tinctly marked. The foreman is recog-
nized as model juror for good case,
hut too sound for poor ono. The
second juror is the proverbially obsti.
nate specimen who invariably insists
that he is right and tho other eleven are
pig-headcd fools. He is first rate man
to have in the box IL a disagreemehtis
wanted The third is marked down rs
always having leaning toward bic
plaintiffs side Of the case, while tie
fourth is known Us an easysgoiog,
"hsppy 20 lucky sort Of an individual,
rcady to 90 With whichever QUE the
"other fellows favor. Number five is
tho inquisitive juror. He is always ask
ing questions Of tho witness about mat
ters which the lawyers have kept care.
fully in the background His brothsen
in the box respect him, hut tho law yrs
regard him as an irritating thorn. Mum
Der six is much given to argument aud
contention. He is always ready for
eight in tho jury room, and being some.
what glib, " i. generally able 70 hold
his own.
Seven is an unknown quaptity. Ho
is possessed Of great vcnoration for
judicial learning and discernmcnt and
goes with tho Judge, il the judge mad.