The sun., 1889-11-10

70 ESCAPE suEJ 1ut1s
Recorder Smyth sat on the bench OF Part
/. OF the Court Of General Sessions one morn
ing several weeks ago. He was waiting for q
jury who was Of that moment celebrating In
case Of considerable Importance. The jury had
been occupied In listening to evidence for
nearly two weeks. and had at this time been
locked up for over twenty-four hours. 1t was
shortly after II O'Clock. and the court room
had Just been opeped. The lawyers had been
coming and going for some minutes, and there
was general hum and buzz Of conversation
which denoted that actual proceedings had not
yet been begun.
The Recorder was seated with his chin sunk
in bis right hand. apparently In brown study.
The rear part Of tho court room and the jury
box were filed with tRlesmen who had been
summoned to form new jurles. They were
talking, most OF them in rueful way, about
the chances OF their getting of. and all devout-
ly hoping that they would not be stuck upon .
case such as was even then about to close.
Suddenly the chief clerk stood up and an
nounced In o clear voice that all tslesmen who
had any excuses to offer which would prevent
their serving as Jurors could 20 up and see the
Judge. Immediately long string Of men
began to move around back Of the jury box
and up to the Bench. The Judge hitched his
chair little closer over to one end. and the
first In line Of the expectant talesmen slid into
the witness chair. The Judge leaned his head
over and tho man looked up into his face with
an expression that was half deferential and
half deprecating. The Recorder looked very
grave. and the other men in the line, who were
watching his face with great earnestness, ap-
peared to be unpleasantly impressed.
well. SIR" said the Recorder to the man In
the witness chair. what is your excused"
The man in the witness chair was positive
looking, and spoke with an air that indicated
absolute certainty OF the rigbtfulness Of his
statement
"I don't think. SIR" he said. "that would
make q good juror. I have conscientious
doubts about by ability to decide In a criminal
Oh. no." said the Recorder, you are an in
telliRent man. You are Just the sort Of man we
want on juries. Have you ever had any ex-
" No. sir" said the man.
Gns
reason for wishing to be excusedY"
"Weil, that's no reason. The law takes no
cognizance Of any, such excuse as that. YoH
will have to TsS With Uf &
forehead. much disgusted. The next man was
youthful and had a long, curling brown NOUS
he stroked It between every half dozen words
he uttered. He was dressed In the latest style.
He Slid into the chair 4Pd put 81 his aSe up close
Your Honor. ! am in the brokerage bust
"Well. sir" said the Recorder. sternly. II
don't know as that excuses you. .,.1
OF town, and the entire busln lness devolves upon
me. It would cripple our business, very much
You MdI are Se perfectly y sure" said the Judge.
) that your partner Is out Of town and can't get
We'll PlI let you CO. then" said the Judge.
fed smile extending away up to his eyes A
heavy. lumbering. good -natureq nm man took his
place at the RssoEder,s @ elbow; The froTn that
perplexity than OF anger. There were little
wrinkles under his eyes and at odd moments
up into the Recorders stern oountenance In a
hopeless sort Of way and his shoulders
s bss sTS ne sRsS sbs7 Hs
Well: sir, what have iut y9u to say say21 1,.o.
before. and ! feel convinced that can do my
duty as GzeP nm neither have dssre
II am an artist employed in making designs
Shes s'fnsa 6sve g ness
however, have been out OF work for twelve
Herter Brothers which would keep me busy
for long time at very excellent remuneration
II am put on this jury will lose this con-
Well, we won't have you do that" said tho
Recorder; you are excused for the rest of the
The man looked up surprised. All his sad
ness disappeared. and happy smile illumined
his face. He thanked the Recorder quietly and
4 gray bearded man. evidently a foreigner
stumbled on Ids way onto the platform. whore
EaiPffo Honor S9a he said II am an 1sraete"
aWell." % - said the Recorder. II don't know as
you. Some Of our best jurors belong to your
Yes. sir" said the man mildly. but we have
but d ySqErs Ers mot n, wanted 0Sdt tomorrow.
II Pm" said the judge stroking his chin re-
fectively; quite sure OF that -
"Weil. iii excuse you" said the Recorder.
served on iaries the week previous, and they
another Hebrew. who an1qunced buntly that |
he wanted to be excused because of his holi-
Well" said the Recorder in excusing him.
!" 1 believe In taking cognizance OF such rea-
sons as these. You will be the more ready to |
Then came man dressed In the latest Eng
ish clothes. with an oyercoat as stiff as a |
board. a gray beard trimmed liz the English |
fashion, and the drawl usually affected by |
Well; sir" said the Recorder. why do you
want to be excused r.
way. Il don't believe In jaries. 1
think they are farce"
Recorder Smyth turned very red and his eyes
dashed.
II don't think. sir. that we would want you
as Juror, l don't think you would make q
good one."
The Recorder waved the man away with his
land anRriy. He marched of with his head
erect. and an air OF injured innocence.
The last man In the iineiwas frank. honest
ooking young German, who spoke English
,ery we'll and very inteiiigently.
You don't mean to say you want to get
,ff 2" said the Recorde looking at him sharply
"No, your Honor" he said. - would not ask
o get of, but / am not eligible. will not be-
,orne citizen f9r another month. Then will
The Recorder smiled and nodded, and the
'onng man passed out.
With the exception OF this last talesman.
Those nane had through some error slipped
nto the books OF the Commissioner OF Jurors,
II the talesmen had approached the Judge as
xecutions. All but he. ALSO had whispered
loarsely, as though they were contlding to the
Judges keeping some awful secrets OF State.
The Judge was accustomed to this sort OF
hing as he had gone through with 1t many