Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1889-04-27
A PRETTY now DIE DO.
The High Jinks Played by q Jury in q
Justice Court While Supposed to be
SOlemnIy D~elfberating.

Abk0 As8A AAAn = A1y0u ~ - Oufy IN u
Justice Court While Supposed to be
Soiemnly D~eliberating.
Ii leaked out yesterday that the jury Of
twelve impapelled to well aud truly try the
case OF the Territory We. Eva. st. Clair, a
young colored woman of furnished reputa'
ton, in Justice Engel's court had q high old
time when they were left to themselves to
deliberate upon the guilt or innocence oil
the accused. The prosecuting witness. who
accused the dusky Eva OF getting away
with $35 belonging to her, is Of a similar
shade OF reputation and complexion to
the defendant, and both may be said to be
rivals in business. The sentiment OF the
majority OF the jury was that the charge
was utterly improved, but two Of them
wanted to sinch Eva badly, and would
listen to no persuasion. The room occu-
pied by the Justice, in which the jury were
locked up, is lighted by one window facing
east, and opens upon a fat metal roof easy
oil access by simply stepping out OF the
window.
It was 4 o'clock when the jury were left
to themselves, and it soon became evident
that the session was not going to end in q
hurry. The minority of two stuck to their
view with a pertinacity worthy OF a better
cause. and the discussion became personal
and OF course heated. This suggested rails
ing the window, as the room is otherwise
unventilated, and from the window to- the
roof was but a step. The fresh air outside
was SO pleasant that the jury commenced
to make themselves a home with their
new surroundings. Some of them at
C found themselves in a cougenial
atmosphere and began q Irritation with q
colony of sirens established in a house
across the alley. The sirens congregatei in
the upper rooms, from whence an animated
conversation ensued upon topics very far
removed from that committed to the iury
upon which to concentrate their intellect
ual faculties. They were informed by GER
tain scepegraces among the jury OF the
condition of siege in which they were held,
and they undertook TO supply their needs
with provisions, passed up by a string.
One feature of these was an ardent fluid OF
a deep amber color, which the scapeeraces
OF the jury divided in a simple and in.
formal way, and Immediately began to feel
jolly.
TO the credit OF some of the jury, they
entirely discountenanced these proceedings
and refused to participatein them by word
or action. The conduct of the sea pegra ces
was reported to Justice Engei who an
peared on the scene and threatened to i'm.
pose q heavy fine il the misconduct was
repeated. He warned them that he would
lock them In all night il they did notarrive
at a verdict, but the threat seemed to have
effect. As o o as he retired the discus
siou was resumed with vim consequent
upon the stimulus some of the jury
had partaken of, and pandemonium was
established. Two of the Jurors almost
can to blows, it is said, aud it REQUIRED
the strenuous Intervention of the few better
disposed to preserve the peace. After the
noisy spirits had wrancled Intellectually for
hour or two more. the Justice concluded
it was vain to expect harmony oil opinion
rom them, and released them from further
of the case. A more dis
susted set of men than the sober members
Of the jury it would be hard to find, and it
will be q smart constable who can catch
one OF them for q justice court jury again, |
County Attorney Dewitt concluded yes
5erday morning that two di~sagreements by
uries in a case were equivalent to an &C
Iuittai, and the counsel. Tor the defendant
With cold-blooded malignity insisting that
i the case were proceeded with he would
gain demand a jury of twelve, he entered /
formal dismissal OF the case which ends /
OF the least savory episodes in the |
Of jury trials in Butte.