New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-04-16

az stolid ignorant faces, and are Wlrh'u 'i'' Wv
;,,rv will decide the case, not 50 much upon Wv
f,cts I'm cvidcpc. and the points "f me III ="
mont ,s upon their own supcrilcial ana "i''
eo,,i,c ANALYSIS Of the issues so far as the! "i'
capablc of understanding them .;
Tb. stock Joke of the bar that Only oih"i'''
once can tell what Il jury VIII 90 i ~ "'''i
nlcasantry based upon the ignorance VI
'...r,,,, ,,,r, If there were Il fair degree OIL
,,,o,iconcc in n Jury box the result Ill pl'i"
i..,,os of fact would never be in doubt men
cha sv.,om was introduced in early En@lSh
,,.,,r. i,rics wore selected from intelligent VIII
.,.o. ~ crimc or wclnformcd acquaint-
onces of the litigants Then II WAS c"N''"'
an advantage to have Il JuryHi"" NV"
advance something about the ease ana 'i' P''
ties in action. Now the rule Is rcVerSc'' anu
Intelligence and special knowledge are 'iS''
ouslv excluded. The juryman must 'o'ii''' "
absolute ignorance Of the facts. even from h''i
say or newspaper reading, ana be cr'u''u WYNN
that condition Of intellectual Vacu'y WIZ" ~
considered essential 10 ilnpar'iai JuuEi"''''
Prevailing legal methods undouDtcdiy nave d.
crayatcd these evils, but Il large share VI '''
responsibility for unintelligent tral JurI'S i'o''
with wcll-cducated and reputable cltlZ'hs WIN
cvodc their public duties. Every Monday morn
ing when a new panel is summoned Inc '""Ec
is waylaid in his private room ny men WIN
are reluctant TO render jury duty Tor Il SihSc
week. When the roll is called in open co"'
there Is a swarm of respectable cltlZehS ''o'''"
the bench unfortunately begging oil upon one
shallow prccXt or another.
A practical reform Of the jury system can be
wrought without State legislation or agitation
z IuIUpS will take me
stand that Jury service is public duty when
must not be shirlcd by intelligent clhz'hS
Judrc Moore in Brooklyn during his long term
Of useful service on the D'hch Has h'"o'''
strcnuouslv TO raise the level Of the jury box
by obStructing and preventing In every poSS'"'''
vrov evasion Of Jury service by those summoned
i'm the general panel. by his syS'eha'c IT,
frsoI If frivolous excuses he has made it OK
trcmcly difficult for unwilling jurors 10 'S'"P'
dutv I'm his court: and by his wholesome re-
Dukes. administered weekly TO citizens WE" are
rrodisnosod to neglect one Of the most impor-
tant public duties. he has aroused them 10
propcr sense of their obligations. ms Is
work in which his associates on the Dehch
ourhi 70 co-opcrat" with great oarn"StioS> iH'
most effective way Of clcyating jury StalluaI"S
Is that of holding vigorously every on" I" inc
full DISCHARGE Of his llabllty lo jury u"'!' VIM"
that is done. intelligence will not be allowed
f. cvadc service and uninquiSitiv" lGh"rahce
left I'm exclusive possession Of the jury box.
The iury system can be- improved precisely
as the politics of municipality or a Sta'c Is
reformed If good citizens shirk their duti'S'
NEGLECT 10 register and 10 vote. and decline 10
interest themselves in politics, IN" lowest "H"
most ignorant classes will govern the com
mrniiv When public opinion is aroused ana
TN. pnlitical obligations Of citizenship are G"h-
orally recognized there IS a moral certainty
that there VIII bc better government In Inc
same WAY Ignorance will degrade ana paraiyH'
the administration ~ justice 50 long aS lht"ll-
cont citizens are disposed and allowed I" sneak
out II the responsibilities Of jury duty. II lh'E
can bc Induced 10 make il matter "t con-
science To- sacrifice time convenience" ana puHl'
moss engagements and II Judges VIII cease !"
,cc.ni trivial excuses from men who ouEH' 10
he willing to make personal sacrifices for the
nublic welfare. there will be- a higher order OF
intelligence In tie jury box and there VIII he
a wholesome reform in the processes OF justice