The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-09-03

and there were no extenuating circum-
stances whatever. The lawyer got
chance to whisper to one Of the jury
men: 1T will be 500 in your pocket if
you get the jury to bring in verdict Of
manslaughter in the second degree"
The juryman winlxed at the lawyer,
and the case went to trial. The district
attorney made out even a 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,
ut was pretty tough woris, but 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 a disa-
greement, which practically amounts to
the same thing New York is over.
stocked with lawyers, and even where
no fee is paid in murder case the gra.
| tuitous advertising is great incentive.
| am personally acquainted with
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
his other shirt, because he owed her a
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
| criminal he does it. lie almost al
| ways succeeds. They say he can forge
q chain Of evidence around the most
tricky criminal.
He takes them in his private studio
| and converses with them in quiet, ia
therly way, until they confidingly tell
all they know, and even a great deal
| more sometimes. But what is the use
Of catching criminals If the chuckle-
headed iuries turn them loose again on
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
1 quality of the material Of which the
iuries are composed. II a 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?'
| No"
"Doyou believe that murderers should
be eXecuted?"
81 do not"
would the evidence control you in
arriving at a verdict"
mot il could help it."
take your seat in the jury box"
| ALEX E. SWEET.