The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1888-02-02


TRIALS OF JURORS. -The right of trial
by jury is one of the institutions of our
civilization, hallowed by the usages OF
hundreds of years. and rendered sacred
to every citizen of the land. who sees in it
the grand palladium OF his rights. It is
seldom that the calm, rejecting mind of
community fails to approve the verdict of
juries, and it is we'll that it is so. for when
otherwise, it indicates an unhealthy con-
ditlon of the public mind. which If in
dulged in, will lead to excuses, destructive
of constitutional rights, and guaranteed
immuni ties. Intimidation of jurors is
subject to action before the courts, and
should meet the indignant condemnation
of all liberty loving people.
Who knows the troubles of a jurorY
Busted in the peaceful pursuit of his daily
avocation. suddenly and without warning
he is jerked up by all officer of the court
by the information sternly given, you are
wanted at the Court House." Instantly
he is filled with excuses. He is so busy on
some special business-never so important
as just at this moment. But the demands
of the law are nexorable, and go he must,
and go at once. He is sworn by the clerk,
and questioned by the court; and having
answered satisfactorily, and failed to sat
isfy the court of sufficient excuse why he
should not serve. he is directed to take his
seat, One more chance is left him. Four
names are to be scratched off, and he fer
vently prays that at this time at least, he
may be among the scratched. The names
are announced of those who are taken off,
but he hears not his name. He feels that
the verdict is against him; he is in the
hands of the court and must submit.
During the trial, at least, be feels that he
belongs to his country. Is he the head of
family, visions of home loom up before
him. He did not expect when he left
home in the morning, to be caught in this
fix. How shall he get word to his better
half, as to his enforced absence. He is
under the eyes of the officers of the court,
cut off from all communication with those
around him, and all he says and does must
be under the vigilant eye of the officers Of
the law. Soon he settles down to business
and in measure forgets his cares. But
as soon as the court adjOurns. every one of
the twelve men on the jury who have
homes, must 60 there right away to attend
to the unfinished business. They are in
formed by the officer that this cannot be;
they submit and go to be locked up. Du-
ring the day the average juror gets on well
enough, but when night comes on he is
necessitated to chunk" with some fellow
he never bunked with before-this is too
bad, His home comforts are conspicu-
ously absent, but after many worries and
perpleXities he yields to the inevitable,
and gives himself up to the novelties of
| the Situation.
The most disturbed man on the jury is
| the fellow who is in love. He can neither
see the object of his love, nor write to her
except his letter passes under the eye of
the court. Of course this is out of the
| questio, and his troubles seem too heavy
to be borne. The .,other fellow" has him at
great disadvantage. and nine chances to
| Uil0 III tjlS EOlO uIHlIESD, uC WOui4 udueS buU
ACQUIRED rather than the jury, that he may
the sooner return to the chair that should
be vacant i'll the cosy room, ever so bright
and cheerful in the atmosphere of love.
But the lover, too. must submit and be
subject also t9 the fun poked at him by
the bachelor juror, who highly enjoys the
situation, and who is really the only happy
man on the jury. He is calm and peace
full, in what he now thinks his we'll chosen
situation, and which he would not ex-
change for the so-called joys of welded
life. The law should be changed to haye
all the flock up" juries composed of bach
elors. We vote in the affirmative, and are
unanimously endorsed by the wives and
sweet hearts.
Hon. John Blair Hoge, of Martinsburgs