New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-01-11
THE CASE AGAINST MR.. PLAT.
A JUROR OF AMAZING QUALIFICATIONS.

a ~
HE DOESN'T KNOW GOVERNOR HILL AND NEVER
HEARD OF THE PRESIDENT, BUT He Is A DEM
ocRAT.
ALBANY. Jan. 10 (SpcciaD.-Judge Mayham' OF inc
Supreme Court to-day admitted juryman to try the
case of Thomas C. Plat who said he does not Know
who is President OF tho United States nor who Is
Governor of New-York. The counsel OF MI. Pia't
were dazed by the decision. II was bad enough 10
discover that the jnryboA by some curious acciden'
was packed full of Democrats, bat to have ignorance
of this character thrust upon them was 100 m"c".
They protested, they dragged out OF the ""nneriui
iuryman the statement that he could not write or
read They persuaded him to admit that Nc consul
cred Dcuucrat a better citi1nn" than Republican
aud that sIt would not be asy' TO decide against
Dcmocrst stll Judge Mayham declared him mt
,,rvmsn and the man who knew not David b. Hi
or Grover Cleveland but who always Ve'cs 'h'
straight Democratic tickct' went on the jury
This phcnorne nal 1uryman, IL may be said. was sur
rounded by a crowd of his peers Mr.. fia't
counsel by exhansting their p.remptory challenges
managed To ret one Republican farmer in the DoX'
BUT they were not conented to accept James Co"ery'
the highly intelligent witness referred 10 aoo'o
without further examination
"What day We're you born'" inquired Mr. Harris
Somewhere about ST. Patrieks Day. replica inc
Juror. ,, ~
@wbat time in the year does ST. PatricRs Day
come 2"
"Oh somewhere near New Years.
Mr. Harris asked that the Juror bc excused on ac-
count of age. Jusrce Mayham held that the juror
was competent as to ago, Notwithstanding Clowery
looks TO be seventy five and wears a wig. lie was
subjected to another examination by Mr. OBrien-
Who is President Of the United states!'
Mr. Clowery hemmed and hawed, but could not an
swcr Justice Mayham said he would ovcrrule the
challenge.
Mr. Harris-Then you decide this man is we'll in
formed and of sound judgment II must come to that
you hold that this man is within the statute
intelligent, well informed and OF sound Judgment.
ClOwery here offered an explanation Il feel
dazed- he said; in few moments, perhaps, can
recollect who Is President Of the United States
We will give him few moments to think OF the
Presidents name,' said Judge Mayham with COM
passionate air The trial ceased for five minutes
while Ciowery Thought. At the end Of that time he
said that he did not know the Presidents name
Well, think the 1uryinan IS competent Sald
Judge Mayham VIII not argue ,hI in c sSe box IL
you like"
Mr. obrieD, ia opening the case Tor Governor HIii'
said that January 20, leo, Mr.. Iiati was appoint
in 1863 creating Board OF Quarantine commissioners
i was provided that al these Officers should De fs
New York and Brooklyn. Mr.. Plat, howeper, was
not resident OF e,er OF these PSeeS when d nSa
S due ' Witnesses o pye hat Mr. a had voted in
owego since his appointment
The hearing of the evidence OF witnesses then % gun
There were a large number from Oweeo, brought 10
Albany to testify ahont Mr.. Platts voting there
County Judge ID. T. EasOn. Of 1ioga County, testified
that on July 49, 1850. Mr.. Plat, after his appoint
nent as Quarantine commissioner, had voted at a
school cleo ton IN OweGO, and that the witness had
eli alJcnged his VOTE Judge Easton said: " The in
quiry was made what ground challenged his Vote
i replied that he nor resident. that understood
he was a resident of the Metropolitan District and
was a Quarantine Commissioner. lie said that he
would make hot for me: that / was acting from
,neannces: that Quarantine Commissioner McQuade
Voted In Uica although living I'm New York. Mr.
lao ifnnf M
county aid voted"
Burr J. Davis. proprietor Of the Ahwaga Honse at
Owego testified that Mr. Plat Tor three years a1tcr
his ennointmcn as Quarantine COnms siOner retained
a room in his hotel and came to Oweso to vote MI
Platt however, had not lived in oweGo since 1Sfo
Test imony that Mr.. Iiatt had voted in owego since
1850 was cvcn by stephen Chamberlain. Lyman y.
Ipu.fec and Gabriel NJ. puyte all OF owego j.. D.
Whitley reporter. testified that OH July 70, 1851
Mr. PLAT had told him at Manhatt an Beach that he
wed In TlOga Comfy. III,
qhe testimony OF the witnesses for the defence VIII
be given tomorrow.