The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-11-23

MORO lnterVleWS on the evils OF the pres
ent jury system. With ono accord the
lawyers unqualifiedly indorse the posi-
ton taken by THE TIMES. Following
arc some of their opinions:
They Wont BE 30 Anxious.
Rush U. Derr: ABOUT the jury sys-
tenn would say, do not think it de-
fcctive in itself, but fear the defect is
in tho execution. OF course, it is not
advantageous 10 have the same man on
every jury, as the law seems to have
provided against this, but yet in many
Instances the same man seems to get
there all the same. This may be due to
his proximity to the courthouse and
tho ease of access &C the sheriff, or it
may be due to the curiosity which leads
him to take an interest in court pro-
tho panel is incomplete. Some of
those selected are very good men and
could give an intelligent opinion on any
subject discussed before thom for 3S5
days or the year, and would probably
BIO preferable, as arbiters or Jurors,
to others that might BIO drawn under le-
gal provisiosn. However, If there is law
its intention is best promoted by eXecu-
ting 1t, and If it is a bad law this is the
quickest way Of getting rid of it. Even
were the position of Juror more conse.
quential, and the omolunents therefore
moro considerable, do not think that
the heartiest enthusiast in that direc-
ton could be very clamcrous to serve
now since TIE TINES has given the
matter such prominence, and, 20 say the
least, l believe the efforts of The TIMES
will subserve u good end in correcting
the defect, who her caused by neglect to
regard the provisions of tho law by the
officer in charge, or by the anxiety to
serve in this capacity"
Remedial Legislation Needed.
Eston Randolph, city solicitor, said
that the trouble seemed in the statutes
exempting so many of our best citizens
from jury duty. Any man by contribu-
ting TO fire or military company could
evade this most important duty and
privilege right which forms one of the
bulwarks Of our civil and constitutional
liberty The abrogation of some of the
existing statutes on this subject would
probably be the surest and safest plan
Of remodying existing evils pertaining
to our jury system. While concur with
the line of thought suggested by THE
TIMES think that the root of the evil
should be struck through now and
remedial statutes.
In Hearty Sympathy with The Times.
A. p. Staples. OF the firm of Scott &
Staples: while am not informed as
to the correctness of the statistics that
appeared in THE TINES article of Sun
day and an inclined to the view that
some of the parties whose names are
mentioned therein are not justly the
subject OF the criticism made by THE
with the policy of THE TINES in seeking
to prevent continuation of the profess
sional jury service.
Under the law, as 1 understand it.
there is no reason why any man should
be required to serve on jury more
than ono term year, unless q matter
OF accident, and when that accident be-
comes so frequent it indicates desire
on the part OF the party to serve on the
jury.
II do not think those parties who are
DESTROYS Of serving on juries make as
impartial jurors as others. Their in
clination is to frequent the courts; they
hear cases of Importance discussed be-
forehand by interested parties and it is
ono of the phases of human nature to
take sides with one or the other in mat
tiers of general discussion.
while l believe that a Juror should
BIO we'll informed, l think he should
enter upon his duties with as little
knowledge of public sentiment and Of
as possible, and the less frequent he is
in his attendance on the court the more
important would be his views.
81 can but think that under the pres
ent law tho jury service may be so
distributed as to prevent a frequent
service by any one person, and espe
cially is that true in a city the size of
Roanoke. But realize that tho evil
which THE TIMES complains Of is one
the existence Of which is recognized all
over the country. l think THE TIMES
should have the cooperation of the peo-
Pile and the bar in it's efforts to have the
juries OF the city composed of the most
intelligent and most impartial class
of citizens"
Limit Exemptions and Service.
Roy B. Smith: "The fault is not alto.
gether with the men who are put on the
jury, as some OF those named by THE
TIMES have complained very bitterly to
me of being 80 often pressed into serv-
ice, but the fault seems to lie in the law
which exompts so many of our best PEG.
pie from jury service. The professional
Juror is loafer as a rule. Not having
any special employment, he is frequently
around the courthouse, and as he does
not complain when summoned on the
jury the officers are rather encouraged
to summon him.
81 have frequently heard some of our
best business mon, 30 called, complain
of the officers for su moniRg them on
the juries, yet those same people, when
they have cases in court to be tried, will
even more bitterly complain that the
officers did not summon men OF more
prominence in the business community,
instead of cnurthnnsa .hnms, and Nnaf-