Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-08-27
NAL.

and there were no extenuating circum-
stances whatever. The lawyer got a
chance to whisper to one of the jury
men: .'It will be 500 in your pocket if
you get the jury to bring in a verdict of
manslaughter in the second degree"
The juryman winked at the lawyer,
and the case went to trial. The district
attorney made out even worse case
against the accused than was expected.
Finally the case went to the jury, which
remained out long time, but at last
brought in the desired verdict of man
slaughter in the second degree. On the
following day the lawyer for the
convicted man paid over the 500 to
the juror, thanking him warmly for his
efforts to save the lawyers client who
should have been hanged, drawn and
quartered.
"Yes," responded the juror, as he
placed the money in his inside pocket,
sit was pretty tough work, but l got
there after awhile. All the rest were
in favor of acquittal."
One reason why the murderers escape
conviction is the zeal of their lawyers,
who leave no stone unturned to bring
about an acquittal, or at least diSa-
greement, which practically amounts to
the same thing. New York is over
stocked with lawyers, and even where
no fee is paid in a murder case the gra-
| tuitous advertising is a great incentive.
am personally acquainted with a
young lawyer who was admitted to the
bar three years ago, and the other day
he got his case. He sued his own wash
erwoman, who had refused to return
4 u L
bill. These young lawyers are very
| active. AS soon as the judge lays down
the law nicely they jump on it.
When it comes to catching criminals
New York has very superior facilities.
Inspector Byrnes is one of the ablest
detectives in the world. They say he
can hear the grass growing, he is so
sharp, and when he undertakes to find
ways succeeds. They say he can forge
| tricky criminal.
| He takes them in his private studio
and converses with them in a quiet, ia
| therly way, until they confdingly tell
| all they know, and even a great deal
| more sometimes. But what is the use
! of catching criminals if the chucble-
/ utdUcO tuIh tiiS1n 1OOSS e4lh Oh
| the community? Most Of the murder
| ers and murderesses that are tried in
| New York feel so sure OF their escape
| from the meSheS of the law that the
| only time they are moved during the
| trial is when the sheriff moves them
| from the Tombs to the courthouse in
| the ''black Maria"
Another cause why justice miscarries
| so often is to be found in the inferior
| quality of the material of which the
| juries are composed If talesman
| discloses the fact that he is possessed OF
| sufficient intelligence to read the pa
pers and form an opinion as to the guilt
| or innocence of the prisoner, he is
rigidly excluded from the jury box.
The juror who is allowed to take his
seat in the box usually gives the follow
ing answers to the questions:
| Lawyer-Are you opposed to capital
punishment?
Juror-Not at all.
do you know what capital punish
| ment is?''
mo"
"Doyou believe that mu-derers should
be executed?''
II do not
Would the evidence control you IL
arriving at q verdict?"
| Not if ] could help it."
''Take your seat in the jury box"
| ALEX E. SWEET