St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-02-01
OF ONE MIND.
Representatives Who Sustained
the Stevens Jury Bill.

Representatives Who Sustained
the Stevens Jury Bill.
Representative Searle-Long trials
taking up week, or more often come
to no conclusion because one or two
men on a jury. through motives of
prejudice, hang it up, an evil of the
present jury system only eradicable by
the proposed three-fourths rule on a
jury.
Representative Hoyt-If there is any
thing that the people of this country are
proud of it is their old jury system. But
this proposed change must impress
them as for the best.
Representative Fleming-The jury
system ought to be kept IN its present
state so far as it is compatible with the
best interests of the people. But the
evil which this Stevens bill proposes to
remedy, is one of the most miScheiyOus
that we have to face in the courts to-
day. California has tried this measure
for eight years with success, and we
can we'll afford to follow her example.
Representative Morgan-l favor this
measure, seeing in it nothing hostile to
our present jury system.
Representative BruSh-The time has
come when we must make change in
our jury system. This Stevens bill is a
direct movement toward the improve
ment of that system.
Representative Forbes-Every lawyer
knows how this changing" of juries
meets them in every court. claim that
any law which gives to one man on a
Jury the right 10 defeat the opinions of
the other eleven is wrong in principle.
Moin if1y HAniSinnS frnUprn tho most I'M
portant affairs of our government, and
Since it does | cannot see why it should
not be extended to our jury system.
Representative Stebbins-AS lay
man and not lawyer, | favor the adop-
ton of the majority rule. L was elected
to this house by majority OF one.
Representative Davenport My eX-
perience as a clerk of the court for the
past eight years cOnVinceS me of the
Justice of this measure. / have known
Jurors to hang jury over night for the
purpose of getting per diem for the sec
0nd day. This proposed amendment is
most valuable one.
Representative G. r. DaviS-The dig
nifty of the jury system is at stake in
this proposed new jury system. This
measure oyerthOWS possible minority
rule.
Representative Haydn the first in
PRODUCTION of this bill was radically OPP
posed to 1t, but by the speeches here and
articles written in the press, l have been
so influenced as to almost absolutely be-
lieve that this measure is for the best
benefit of the state of Minnesota.
Representative Steyens-The preiu
dice that may aud does often rule in
jury cases is well illustrated by story
told me by Judge Collins and an oil in
spector, S. Fl. Nichols. Mr.. Nichols
was on a jury in criminal case when
Swede was on trial. Another member
of the jury was an Irishman who had
strong antipathy to SNedes but did not
know the nationality of the prisoner.
The evidence was clear as to his guilt,
but when the jury wentout, only eleven
voted for conviction. the Irishman cast
ing his ballot for acquittal. After a bal
lot or two this man Nichols said to the
Irishman:
well, Pat, don't you think the Swede
is guilty?"
"a Swade, is hep" roared Pat. ''Be-
CORA thin he is guilty." and his ballot
was changed and the verdict of guilty
sent in.