Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1891-07-10
PROFESSIONAL JUROR.
HIS DOMAIN, HIS HABITS AND
LEADING CHARACTERISTICS.

Tricks by which Legal Proceedings Are
misunderstanding out" an Extra
Day or Two-slippine into the Jury
x-Classificatio
Chief among the Institutions almost time
honored, but now ia rapid decadence, is the
professional iuryman for he is an institution,
and it will not be long until he is numbered
among the antiquities of that limbo of the
long ago known MS ''the good Old times"
Many circumstances have brought about
his decline, among these legislation on the
subject and active measures taken by the
courts to prevent his depredations, and his
extinction is now only question of time
He nay still be occasionally seen, however,
stalking solitary in the neighborhood of the
court house or its corridors, for he is not ii
rrcgarious anima! The circuit court is the
place where he finds his best picking and is
his fayorte haunt. He is also frequently
seen in the common pleas court OF in the
luW and equity court, when common law
cases are on trial, but never in the other tr
uuials, as heretofore it has never been the
custom for jurymen to draw pay in the other
courts
On the first or third Monday morning in
each month, ut the regular time TO draw the
two panels for the half term OF the circuit
courts, he, or several OF him, may be seen
lettering about, hoping to fill up the needed
number, as "bystander," and an Interesting
study is afforded IL there is II long ard
tedious trial promised in the common law
courts, q number OF him is sure to lie present
for, unlike the ordinary iurymln, he likes
the trial 10 last US long as possible to swc,l
the total OF his PEI diem. In fact, he llas
even been known to resort to tricks to pro
long the proceedings. 1t is u very simple
matter for him not to agree on big contest
and 'hold OUT the jury for day on two.
To be taken on the grand jury by hooi; OF
crook on IA chance occasion il almost n Sine
cure. If summoned us "bystaudern for tie
petit jury ho viii always, if possible, ''hold
OUT till the second day, for, 50 summoned
he can draw lay for only one days services,
while, if he rCEgins over till the second day,
he can draw pay for both days.
BIS NUMERoUs TRICKS
Ills tricks are almost innuncrabla, and
although tier, are several species of him, all
arc characteristic Of tn genus ''professolal
jurynann Three-toursh3 Of the hung ju--
les, it is said Icy court official who is stats.
teal flend, are due to professionals" IL
delights in a trial for murder or any other
serious olIense, IS there is a chance fer u
''locl; up in which case, if he show sufficient
obstinacy, under the name OF Il "conscien-
tious determination" lie can spend several
days at a frs class hotel, under The assdu-
Gus caro- of mine host, who takes care that he
shall have the bcst of attention.
Another favorite trick ho he's is to slip into
the jury box and dll up tho vacancy causoa
by the absence of enc OF the regularly drawn
jurylnea. The clerk has frequently to CON
suit his list and call the roll to d. cover the
intcrloper, and when asked 20 give the reason
of lis presence he generally explains b. stat
ing that he Thought the clerk called lis
name OF course there is no penalty, and
he sinks away, sad at his detection But lie
is maa OF insstence. One defeat does not
discourage him, and il is but u few DAYS IN
til lie is ready to repeat the trick.
The genus professional juror for con-
venicnce of classification, may be subdivided
into q number OF species, embracing persons
Of nearly all ages and all classes of society.
There are politicians designated by various
terms, such as ward workers" Strikers
"wiIe pulLors,' or, as they call themselves
''nlen OF influence There are thriftless hus-
bands, unnecessary appeudascs to thrifty
wives, who are generally found to be proprie-
tresscs of small boarding houses, or worse
still, shiftess fellows who are not so fortu-
nate as TO he appendages These are dis
charged policemen, gamblers, spectators,
disabled men, men out Of work. and, saddest
OF all, shabby geateel men Of decayed for
tunes and gcntility. Every specimen of the
different species is as distinctly recognizable
as if he wore label. These are the men who
often decide lsnotty point in common law,
or decide whether prisoner shall spend one
or ten years in the penitentiary, shall get a
'lfer,h or be hanged. louisville Courier
journal