The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-11-22

there is every reason why he should
practice the golden rule in this con-
nection. 1 have given my opinion in
general on this question, it being one OF
which l have thought good deal for
some time. AS to the officers who sum-
mons Juries have nothing to say, and
as to tho jurors mentioned in THE
TINES excellent article of yesterday.
do not desire to speak personally"
Reprehensible State of Affairs.
VIM Lunstord: 1.-The exposure in
Sunday mornings TIMES revealed state
OF affairs relative to the Jury box of
Roanoke, which is, to say tho least, ex.
ceedingly reprehensible. 1t was not a
matter of surprise either TO a great
many. do not mean to say, however,
that because juror is credited with an
unusually number of services, that he
thereby becomes PROFESSIONAL for he
may have been caught by chance in tho
majority OF instances and tho service
may have been very inconvenient and
repugnant. l do say, however, that an.
pearances are against him.
81 have no doubt that in allssprobabil-
1ty several of those whose names were
published in this matter were drawn to
the courthouse out of idle curiosity to
hear tho trials of the causes, and the
regular jurors failing to appear or for
some reason having been excused, these
bystanders were picked up and put in
their places. l suspect that this OK
posture will tend very much to correct
the matter"
An Educational Basis Suggested.
j. Il. Hinton: II have often thought
of the evils of professional juries, and
am glad THE TIMES is agitating the
matter. There is no doubt about this
thing being obnoxious to the pu bliu, but
suitable remedy would be hard to sug.
gest L don't know where to put the
blanc and am disinclined to blame any
individual, but it is an undepiable fact
that professional juries do exist, and in
me- re towns than Roanoke. An educa-
tional basis Of selection and law to
prevent any one person to serve moro
than three or four times year might
solve the problem. Business mon, whose
time is valuable, have natural repug-
nance to serve on jury. Professionals
are thus natural outgrowth, and of
themselves make the jury box more re-
pulsive to the better class of citizens by
giving it bad name"
"a Timely Article"
Ed. Lyle: "a more timely article than
the ono in your Sunday edition on
professional jurors has never appeared
in your columns. While in your list
there arc the names of one or two good
men. yet the system is so Objectionable
that can not refrain, on their account,
from giving it my unqualified condemna-
ton. The state OF things referred to is
caused by the dislike OF tho average
citizen to serve on juries. II our bust
ness men would not shirk this duty we
would not have SO many miscarriages of
Justice"
Down On the shirks.
Lucien III. Cooke: ~ recognize the
fact that the jury service is an exceed
ingly onerous one. but since it has been
incorporated in our system of jurs-
prudence, l look upon it as being the
absolute duty Of intelligent citizens to
perform this duty when they may be
called upon, and regret exceedingly to
have observed that this daty is con-
stantly shtrked by the business men of
the community as we'll as every other
one in which have practice6. l have
noticed, too, that tho very individual
who criticises the average juries of this
community when their own cases arc
about to be submitted for adiudic alton.
are the very ones, when they are called
upon to serve as jurors in tho causes of
others, to interpose frivolous excuses
for the purpose of avoiding the per-
Torrance of this duty.
VI do not know why it is that jury
service seems to have gotten into some
disrepute. Certainly I do not believe
that there is any just cause for such a
feeling. AS to the chronic Juror, in
order to remedy existing evils, it is only
necessary for tho parties who are sum-
mOned to attend the court and nerform
their duties.
1.-The remedy is in the hands Of the
people and If individuals would re.
spond to the summons and not attempt
to evade this duty the character of Jury
service would soon be worry much i'm.
proved. But when we see large num-
bers OF individuals becoming honorary
members of military and fire compa-
MES, not for tho express purpose OF aid.
ing those most commendable organiza-
tons, but for tho purpose of enjoying
exemption from jury service, it would
seem that an Improvement cannot be
hoped for in the near future"
All Indorse "The Times"
e. NIGH Gish: THAT article in Sun
days TIMES is the best and most op Dor
tune that I've seen yet. I'm afraid to
say anything further for fear OF putting
it too strong
IL. 7, Parrish: Professional iurics
are certainly very detrimental to the
public good, but have generally been
looked upon as necessary evils. / am
very glad TUE TINES has taken up the
matter and hope something definite
may be done TO change the present la
mentable state of affairs "
Judge Brand: ~ am rather new to
tho place and have no personal knowl.
edge Of the abuses that are alleged to
exist in the jury service. Such sta to
OF affairs would seem to be susceptible
Of prompt remedy ut tho hands OF the