Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1893-07-18
ON THE JURY.

It was Monday morning in tho middle
Of July, and l remember as 1ourneyed to
Clerkenwell remarking how lovely was the
weather.
The Judge was a little late, and the grand
Jury were being charged, and we-that ia,
the bar-had either robed or were robing
and stood chatting together In our room.
While we were thus engaged my clerk
ushered In the we'll known form Of q cele-
brated journalist who was an old friend Of
mine He was very smart. In his snow
white waistcoat, and looked like visitor
at q garden party.
"What on earth brings you here" ex-
claimed.
"I'm on the jury" he replied. "That is
to say, I've been summoned For good
ness sake, get me of. / never was SO busy
In my life, and from what they tell me /
should be kept here for week or fort
night You go down and say word for
me to the clerk of the peace before they be-
gin calling over the names"
Ineed hardly say that did 70 al once.
but returned In few minutes only to re-
port failure in my mission. The clerk
had informed me that he dared not erase
the name without the permission of Sir
William Bodkin, who, on being applied to.
had turned a deaf ear to our prayer.
On hearing Of the results Of my efforts a
blank expression came over my friends
face. II did not, however, remain there
long, and the next minute smile lit up
the features of this most genial of men.
awaited the development Of events with In
terest.
The usher came and announced that the
grand jury were charged. whereupon we
all proceeded into court.
On entering that chamber my friend,
without waiting for his name to be called,
made straight for the jury box, as II only
too anxious to discharge the onerous duties
his country had imposed upon him. He
took the seat usually allotted to the fore
man Of the IL gentlemen who are called
upon ITO true verdict give" etc.
The other II in due course entered the
box. Whether they recognized the emil
nent journalist or not, or whether the at
traction of the white waistcoat and genial
face proved irresistible. cannot say, but
while preliminaries, such as taking the
pleas, were engaging the attention Of the
court, my friend in the box became the
center around which all his fellow jurylnen
gathered like flies about jam pot
He appeared to be In excellent form, and
as he chatted his hearers all wore smiling
and delighted faces.
In due course the jury were called upon
to elect one of their number as foremen,
and when my friend rose, apparently with
a view to quitting his seat, l was not sur
prised to see him at once thrust back by his
comrades, who appeared to be quite unani-
nous In their desire to appoint him their
spokesman.
After very pretty show of hesitation he
consented to act and was duly sworn as
foreman.
The first case was called on. 1t was, il
remember Alright, very simple one Of rob-
berry from the person. The evidence, which
seemed pretty clear, was given; the prisoner
grew more and more detected; the judge
summed up in manner not too favorable
to that individual, and the jury were di
rscted to consider their verdict.
The white waistcoat turned round, there
was whispered colloquy, during which
my friend seemed to be shaking his head
q good deal, and finally the white waistcoat
faced about again.
The officer Of the court put the usual
question, How say you-do you find the
prisoner at the bar guilty or not guilty."
With the blandest Of smiles the fore
man replied, Not guiltyr
The prisoner gave start, and the judgf
looked down as though considerably sur
prised. " tla.t
Another prisoner was given In charge Of
the Jury, the trial was gone through, and
the result was the same.
When the second verdict was returned
the Judge looked very red. and addressing
the foreman said:
Perhaps, gentlemen, In the next case
had better read the whole Of the evidenc<
over to you" ~ ..
The sarcasm, need hardly say. had MOI
the slightest effect.
A third case was tried, and again. though
the evidence seemed at least open to anoth
er Interpretation, the prisoner was pro
nounced to be mot guilty"
This was too much for the Judge.
"Rumbelow," he said, addressing the
usher, 'call fresh jury" Then. turning
30 the occupants of the box, his lordshiT
added In voice not quite under control
"Gentlemen, your attendance will. not bs
required any more during the session."
shall never forget the face Of the fore
man as he stepped from the box. AS h,
passed me on his way to the door fanciet
l detected the faintest contraction about
his left eye. Household Words