The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-12-24
Reform the Jury system.

| The rough handling which Mr.. Culver,
one of the jurors in the Cronin case, is re-
! ceIving is calling attention 20 that featur 9
Of the jury system which requires that all
twelve members of a jury shah agree before
a verdict can be rendered. The opinions
that are finding expression through the
newspapers with regard to it, are that the
law should be SO changed that verdict
could be rendered by either a majority or
three-fourths of the members of O jury. 1t
Is now in the power of one juror TO save
criminal from merited punishment, and he
may do this because be is corrupt, or be-
cause, from prejudice or ignorance, he can
not try case in accordance with the law
and the facts.
Juror Culver is not an ignorant man, but
there are grave doubts whether be is in his
right mind. He appears to have gone into
the jury box With a determination to acquit
the accused parties if possible. The evidence
which was presented by the state, and
| which was sufficient to convince the other
eleven members of the jury that the defend
ants were guilty, does not appear TO have
been regarded by him as worthy of belief.
Before becoming a juror in the Cronin case
there does not appear to have been doubt
about his integrity, but since the trial he
has received many threatening letters &C.
cusing him of being corrupt The Chicago
newspapers have not hesitated to question
his honesty, and he has already brought
suits for damages against several of them.
Bir. Culver is doubtless an honest man,
and he went into the jury box, in all prob
ability, with determination to do his duty
conscientiously and fearlessly. That he is
narrow-minded and pig-headed is pretty
certain. He is what is called religious
crank, and believes that he is better able
than his fellow men to see the path of duty.
He doubtless felt certain sort of pride in
differing with all the other members of the
jury, and would have rejoiced if he had sue
ceeded in inducing them TO agree with him
and to render verdict of acquittal.
Ii 1t should ever appear that the con-
victed men are innocent, of which there is
scarcely possibility, many of those who
are now declaring that Juror Culver ought
to bs hanged would be the first to praise him
for his firmnesS and for his ability to ap-
preciate the true value of evidence.
although he would not be entitled to credit
for any such qualities.
The lesson to be drawn from the Cronin
case is that the requirement that all the
jurors shall agree before verdict can be
rendered is one that is calculated to defeat
the ends of justice. A majority of the su-
preme court of the United States and of
the supreme courts of the different states
decides the most weighty matters, and there
is no reason why a majority or three
fourths of a jury should not render a YER
dict. even in cases in which human life is at
stake.
The jury system of Illinois is receiving a
pretty thorough overhauling. It is said
that although the court told the sheriff,
time and time again, that the jurors in the
Cronin case should not be permitted to
have any communication outside of the
court room with any person except the
officers who had charge of them, several of
the jurors held conversations about the
case with persons in no way connected with
the trial, and were warned that the public
would be satisfied with no other verdict
than that OF guilty. 1t is evident that the
sheriff did not attend to his duty very
strictly.