The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1888-03-07
Protecting the jury.

For several DAYS the district attorneys
office has been haunted by a crank with
an idea Of more originality than eharae-
terizes the notions of most of the lunatics
who want to eiye Mr.. Fellows points on
how the wheels of justice should turn.
This particular gentleman thinks that
the boxes in which the juries sit in court
rooms should be made of glass, having
lids capable of being closed instantly
during discussion between Judge and
counsel. This is to prevent the jury from
hearing things that legally should not be
introduced.
Il am first cousin" said the crank,
"o Of the gentleman who made the flrst
glass coffin. have a letter from District
Attorney Graham, of Philadelphia, hear
tily endorsing my plan and promising to
DO all in his power to have II introduced
into the quarter sessions and court of
oyer and terminer in that city"
The new jury box is constructed Of
thick plate glass, and the jury sitting in
it have their chins about on level with
the tops Of the sides, so they can see and
hear perfectly. The lid is made Of thin
tin, covered with rubber, so that when it
closes all sounds, as well as air, are ex-
cluded from the twelve good men and
true. A hole in the floor, however, ad-
niis air from the basement Of the court
room, SO that during prolonged debate
the imprisoned gentleman are not sufIo-
Gated. The I'D closes with a spring oper-
aied by the judge. \ second before the
closing bell rings, so that the jury have
warning TO duck their heads to save
Them from damage.
An illustration Of the utility of the APP
paratus is given in the following descrip-
tion Of a scene in court:
The prisoner at the bar is charged
with murder. The prosecuting officers
desire 20 call witnesses 20 prove that he
has committed several other assassina-
tons during his career The discussion
of the admissibility of such evidence is
always detrimental to the prisoner,
whether decided in his favor or not, be-
cause the attorneys for the people take
good care, in their argument, to blurt out
full description of the prisoners previ-
ous crimes. Although the testimony is
not admitted, the same effect is created
on the minds Of the jury as if it were.
Your honor" says the district attor
ney, glancing slyly at the jury, we de-
sire to show you that the defendant has
been-"
Bat the judge knows that the compile
ton Of the counsels sentence would be
convicted of murder before" and he is
determined that the jury shall not hear
il, so he touches the little knob on his
desk, the spring works, bell rings, and
The lid Of the jury box shuts up with a
bang, the contents of the box bobbing
their heads as il descends. Thus the
nreiudicial remark does not reach its des-
tination. Then the discussion ensues as
to the propricty of admitting the evil
dence, and when it is over the box is
opened and the jury breathe freely again.
1 They have seen through the glass walls
Of their prison the gesticula;ions and the
wide open mouths of the counsel arguing
but they have not heard anything to in
! iure too much the reputation OF the man
they are trying.
A well-known lawyer being asked
what he thought Of the glass jury box
smiled and said: The principle is all
right, but ! don't think juries would like
being shut up like picked onions in a
bottlc."-N. y. Press.