The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-02-15

mental. II our memory is not at fault
it was jury OF this nationality who
acquitted the murderer OF his father
and mother because his counsel APP
pealed 10 them TO have pity upon q
poor orphan. At any rate, that the
twelve ''good men and true" often
aCQuit over here when the verdict by
right should be one OF guilty, is only too
apparent to even the indulgent French
mind. We have not heard that French
jurymen have the itching palms at
tributed sometimes to juries in America,
but they surely have tender sensibili-
ties and, III some cases, rather soft
heads. Beauty in distress hardly ever
appeals to them in vain, and It IS
proverbial that in a class OF cases which
is rather common here, as Tor instance
where, from jealousy or some other
strong passion, q woman has drawn a,
revolver against her erstwhile lover or
perhaps thrown vitrol over him, the
twelve good Frenchmen in the jury box
are almost sure to Judge leniently, and
as likely as not, II the woman ia the
case breaks down, they will not only
acquit, but will do so with choked
voices and with sympathetic use OF
their pocket handkerchief,
But there arc other queer doingS in
French courts besides those in which
sentimental juries figure, 1t seems
strange for instance to find the presld-
ing Judge acting rs prosecutor. Not
only does he examine and cross-eXamine
the witnesses, but no subjects the ac'
cused to similar process, and does not
scruple to express his opinion Of the
latter, and even to strongly condemn
him, while he is still, the verdict not
having been given, presumphvely lnno-
cent. But this presumption OF inno-
Cence docs not aeen to exist in France.
Charles do Lesseps is told by the Judge
that he has been mixed up ina dirty
Job" and when this opinion was volun-
teered his trial had scarcely begun.
This illustrates how the accused are
treated, and another incident in the
same trial shows how the judges may
comment adversely, il they choose,
upon the testimony of,witnesses,
The President-Do you know who re-
ceyed the cash voucher for 500000f.?
Witness-No.
The Presidential is strange that you
should not know. 1t seems 10 me that
myself should have been more in
quisitiye than that, Laughter.
This. though 1t was funny, was hardly
without bias, and when, at the same
sitting, this first president OF the court
OF appeals interrupted another witness
with the remark that II the Panama
company had never adopted the plan
he had suggested to them cit would
have been a blessing to unfortunate
subscribers, some OF whom were likely
to die OF starvation" he not only did
that which indicated preindgment OF
tho case, but went so far adrift from
judicial caimness as to even drag feeling
into the case. But this is France, we
must remember, and that is the way
they do things in this country.
THEIR DIGNITY.
The French judges, however, are byno
means devoid OF dignity, and, excepting
in great trials, when outside excite
mont seems to be too much for them,
they are not wanting apparently in ju-
dicial repose. To make the rounds OF
the different courts in the palais de
Justice affords you q view OF as fine q
looking body OF men as you could ex-
pect to find anywhere in France. They
are hardly so solemn looking as their
bewigged brothers over in Britain, but
they appear too virtuous to wink at
wrong, and altogether, in their black
gowns and white laplets, they impress
the visitor much rs q body OF prim
looking church OF England clergymen
would be likely to do. They are seated
on the bench in o semi-circle, the pres
ident OF Course, in the middle, and you
notice as you 90 from one court to an
other that in every instance the presi-
dent has before him, in niche at the
opposite end Of the room, bust OF the
figure ofliberty, and behind him a paint
ing OF the crucitixlon scene. Otherwise
the court rooms are much as you find
them in other countries-plenty OF bar
risters waiting for briefs, and the u.s.
ual number OF morbid outsiders; some
of them so deeply absorbed in the pro-
ceedings that they are taking nap.
One feature OF the French judicial
system deserves unstinted praise, and
that is the thoughtful regard 1t shows
for those in limited circumstances, and
its really noble efforts to bring legal re.
dress within easy reach OF the humblest
citizen. In regard to trivial matters, it
is much the duty Of the justice Of the
peace in rural town to settle the diff
ierences, II he can, without allowing the
contestants to como formally before the
court, as it is his duty to honorably try
such cases II his friendly offices are un-
availing. In higher Courts, the poor
who find themselves obliged to invoke
the law are absolved, IL they wish to be,
both from counsel's fees and court and
stamp duties. Nor is this all, but almost
everywhere throughout France there
are special courts made up OF trade ex-
perts, and OF leading business men, for
the settlement, without delay and with
scarcely any cost, OF disputes between
employers and workmen, and OF the
disagreements occurring between rival
commercial houses. These courts arc q
great boon, and their existence is an
other proof, added to many OF similar
import, that tho France oil these later
decades, for from being rich mans
country, is one rather in which the
workman holds sway, and whose affairs
are regulated with special reference to
the we'll being OF the masses. II. T.
--o--
Do not DO Deceived.
Persons, with weak lungs-those who