Nevada County picayune., 1891-12-17
THE WOODRUFF CASE.
Comments of the State Press or the Disagreement of the Jury.

It would be we'll for the State if the next jury could be selected from the rural districts. Ozark Demo- crat.
 The due administration of the law is question higher than the mere consideration of friendship and the social relationships of life. .--tordyee Enterprise.
 The ultimate result of the trial will be to acquit Woodruff, while the expense of the prosecution will have to be paid by the people whom he robbed. W ashington County Re- view.
 It is due Judge Lea and Prose cutting Attorney Pemberton to say they managed the case we'll, secm- ingly impartial and in spirit of fairness to all parties. s.-Eaulkner l CounJN Wheel.
 Had they been trying some poor devil for stealing hog, the ques- tion of sympathy would have never entered their minds. Away with such sympathetic boobies ,-Green- wood Democrat.
 Half the jury honored their paths as jurors and followed the instrue- tions of the court; the others yielded to a sentiment that is false to honor and debases the public morals of the State. Clarksville Herald Journal.
 Two weeks hard work has been gone through with, and enormous expense incurred, and the end is not vet, for it has all got to be gone over agaln, and perhaps again and again, no telling how often. -Dar- danelle Post.
 1t is sad commentary on the Pu- lasli County jury that it's members admit that sympathy for an ex- official, charged with a grave crime, has more to do in shaping their verdict than law and evidence. - Little Rock Democrat
 What pity it is that the State can not take a change of venue in criminal cases. If the Woodruff case could be tried in any county in the State outside Pulaski there would be no trouble at arriving at yer dict ct.-Greenwood Democrat.
 If Quay is now fishing Tn Florida instead of occupying felon s cell in the Pennsylvania Penitentiary, it is because of miscarriage of justice, and if Woodruff escapes the punish ment which he justly merits, it will be due to similar miscarriage. .- Newport News.
 A new oath for jurors: Do you solemnly swear that you will take into consideration the age, previous standing and social position of the defendant. and through sympathy you will render a verdict of acquittal, even if you do find the defendant guilty :'-Jonesbo Times.
 That jury should have been placed in sweat box until it was brought to a complete sense of the oath it took to "well and truly try the case according to the law and the eyi- dence." This maudlin sympathy with criminals should be crushed whenever possible. Hot Springs Sentinel.
 Is it any wonder that, throughout the land, there is growing distrust of the efficacy of the law, a rapidly declining confidence and respect of the country! Is there no remedy for this class of sympathetic jurors, who thus wantonly obstruct the administration of justice: If so, let it be applied. -Searcy Beacon.
 How juryman sworn to decide a case according to the law and ev- idence can permit his verdict to be swayed by sympathy to stutifying himself, is a question a good many people are asking. It appears to us that there ought to be some sympa. thy for the taxpayers whose money was used withou' law or warrant, and if a surplus he left then let Wood ruff have it. But the people should come first. RussellvilIe Democrat.
 The great Woodruff farce that has been on exhibition in the Pulaski court house at Little Rock is finished and "lIonest Billy" is still at large, the jury failing to agree, standing six for conviction, and six for ac- quttal, and were discharged. Thus has it ever been, he who steals his