Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1885-04-15

when persons take their places In .
..c box. they hold np their hands
"a ,ske solemn oath that they will de-
,iss The case 10 be tried before then
..robaina 20 the sworn evidence ad-
aua..a before them, and the Law As de-
,.;,.d 70 them by the CeuEt. II is a sad
,ounsutary on the American jury sys-
-. tha. ia many instances jurors dis
,.sasd their Oaihs altogether and decide
....,s aeoording 10 the diststion Of
,heir prsiadiess. OF thsir sympathies.
Na8 Hang ago tbs writer heard
:, : ezss' n point. A tnan and woman
~.,e addicted By the grand Jury for a
.,s,os a0sinss the Laws of the land, for
.~hIrb Il fo0nd guilty, they were liable
,na eoe Of from $Fg0 down 10 one cent.
a. for Imprisonment for from two years
dosu 70 half q day. The woman was
unfortunately the mother OF two ohil-
drsns When the case came oa for trial,
the defendants were represented by the
ablest couussI that money could secure,
but the evidence Of the guilt OF the &C
cnsed was absolutely conclusive. Every
potst vRs eieariy proven beyond any
question Of doubt, and although the
defendapte pIead not guilty. one OF
them. tfIs only one thst testified, vent
an the stand and practically f6mittsd
svery sseusation in the ind dictmtat. The
iarv vas composed Of nine mn and
shfee women, apparently all intelligent, !
sensible peopie,so far as outside appear
anses we're concerned. At the ei,se of |
tbs evidence. the judge. in a lear, |
rlsin and exhaustive manner, ehARed |
lie iary vith regard TO their duses, |
xheu the twelve retired. After btns |
ont for sOue time il became ap3anDt |
that symIAthy rather than the eyideps. |
was governing certain members OF ts /
fnry. Instead of talking aooat the ev- |
dsnce, thaee jurors would talk about th |
result Of separating mother and chIldrei
and ali snch stuff as that, iust as though
they had any right 70 take any matters
Of that kind into consideration, while
determining from the evidence in the
case whether the woman committed the
crime with which she 10 charged. FL
nally, as sort OF eompromise, note
vas sent 10 tho Judge, reading about as
f0ilovs:
aJUpaE-If We find the woman guilty
will that separate her from her chill
dren
I" fSiRDed) ----, Foreman"
The Judgs very plainly instructed
them that ii was none Of their business;
they uers not being paid 10 discuss
matters OF that kind. Their duty was
10 decide whether the crime charged
had been committed by the defendants,
a .F.A n 4
instructiolas did not satisfy the very
ynpathsiic metnbers OF the Jury, two
OF three To number, who kept the jury
ont eli night, and nearly all the Rsxs
day, when the twelve came into oourt
and reported that they had agreed 10
disagree. On receiving this declaration
the Judge proceeded 20 Tebuke the Jury
In q foreible and fitting manner. He
told them that he was astonIshd at |
their eonnIe, and felt sure every peson |
In the court room who had heardshe |
evidence SHARED with him that astonsh- |
meht. that twelve apparently sensible |
people should fail to agree on q case 70 |
clsaF that any school boy could undr- |
stand IL. He, however, excused te |
jary from further consideration of " /
eass, and dismissed tvs members Z
TIE jury for the term.
A person should either keep cut O
She Jury boz or else make up his or bel
mind 10 lay all prejudice aside, and de.
eide the nilse according 10 the law and
evidence. Otherwise the jury system
will besonie farce, and oitlzsRs, in.
stesd Of appealing to the uncertainties
Of tbs iprY. will rather resort TO arms,
In utter tIisse0aFd fE Law. Law is
made for the protection Of life and
property, bat when Il Ii made farce
Of by iurtss IL becomes hollow mock
cry.