The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-11-24

d. NJ. GambiilS Idea Has Many Sup
porters-Business Mon Claim That Too
| Much limo is Wasted by tho Courts
Tho business men of Roanoke, as we'll
as the lawyers, are heartily in accord
| with THE TIMES in it's efforts to i'm.
| prove the jury systom. A TINES re-
| porter interviewed number of them
yesterday and they unanimously con-
dcmned the present system. Mr.. ]. M.
Gambills letter in yesterdays TIMES
evoked good many favorable opinions
Following are somo of the interviews:
Too Many Chronic Jurors.
w. w. Berkeley, Of Berkeley, Phlegor
81 Johnson: II think that the article in
Sundays TIMES was very timely and
| appropriate. hardly know where the
fault lies, but think, without ref &c ii on
on any individual there have boon
too many chronic jurors. The laws are
made and projected for the people, and
the sergeant OF the court should sum-
mon good men for jurors.
THE present State Of affairs threatens
the stability OF our jury system 1t
might be we'll to repeal the law exempt
ing SO many of our citizens from Jury
duty. The best men of the city ought
to servo as Jurors and only very urgent
necessities should excuse them from
| duty Another point which should be
remembered is that the law requires
that the names of the members and
contributing members Of military and
other organizations shall be filed with
the clerk OF tho court before this class
OF citizens ara exempt, and in case OF
failure should be hold as Jurors.
TO mako this point stronger 1 will
refer you to tho Acts of tho Assem- bly, of
Virginia, 1S9l-1s92. page 1855, which
read as follows: But to entltle tho Of
fcers and mem bers of fire department
or company or of 4 volunteer company
to this exemption, the captain or chief
officer of such department. or company
| shall annually on tho first day of May
each year, furnish to the clerk of the
county or corporation wherever such
department or company is list con-
tanning the name of each officer and
| member of his department or company,
and where there are con sributing mem
bers to his department or company, tho
name of each contributing member shall
be likewise furnished"
What the Merchants Say.
w. G. Evans: "Mr. GambilI hit the
nail on the head and expressed my ideas
exactly"
w. ]. Blair: II am for having the
best men on the jury that we can get.
To business men tho compensation Is
out OF the question, and, in fact, think
the duty would be more cheerfully per-
formed if the pay was done away with,
as this would Danish the 'profes sionap
and keep the Jury box in good repute.
The lists should be made up from the
registration books and every man serve
his term"
Walter S. Boone: 1.-THE TIMES is right
In calling down the professionals 1t
ought to have been done long ago"
Il. T. Fishburne: Every time bust
ness man serves on jury his business
suffers and he cannot be blamed for
Sinking. If so much time was not
wasted by the court they would be more
willing to serve and less complaint
would be made about tho verdict
found"
L. H. Brugh: "Mr Gambill's senti.
ments are mine. The time that is in
variably wasted is the main drawback to
business men serving on juries."
w. S. Pole: 1.-The jury list ought to
be made up from the tax list. There
are enough men to make each mans
ouby ilBub no COMPENSATION SQOulu
be So so per day"
R. a. Buckner: 81 can endorse THE
TIMES and Mr.. Gambill. Very few bust
ness men will servo on jury when they
can get out Of it and it VIII BIO so as
long as tho present state of affairs
| exists"
DR.. Will Gregory: The jury should
be made up of the best people obtain
able or the public interests are bound
to suffer. Every man is likely to have
q case before the jury and should do his
part to keep it's standard accordingly.
The great trouble lies in the amount of
time consumed in getting over so little
ground. 1 was once detained two days
in order to give twenty words of testi-
mony. am glad THE TIMES has taken
| up tho matter"
S. w. Jamison: ~ indorse Mr.. Gam
bills article"
c. Markley: 81 am glad to say that 1
am exempt from service, but I would
not object to serving il it were not for
the time consumed in red tape and in
wrangling. The number of days that
Roanoke holds court is the laughing
stock of the country"
R. 8. Williams: 1.-THE public good
demands that every business man
should spend reasonable amount of
time in the jury box. That they shirk
the duty is not to be wondered at. as it
interieres with their business. don't
think larger remuneration would be
any inducement to the average bust.
ness man
DR.. ]. L. Stone: ST am m ore than de.