The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1894-03-15
The jury system.

Press. An injured person would stand up be-
fore the meeting and state in formal manner a
charge against his supposed injurer. The ac-
cused person would deny in formal way the
truth of the charge Each party would seek to
establish the truth of his statement by calling
upon his supporters to Join hands and swear to
the truth of his word. The one who could get
twelve men to swear with him would usually
carry the voice of the meeting and win his case.
The twelve who swOre together to the same
thing were not jurors yet that custom is sup
posed to have some connection with the origin
of juries When William the COnquerOr with
his army entered England. 10G6 and finally
settled down to rule the land. he. in order to
secure information as to the condition of the
kingdom, demanded a general survey and GEN.
SuS of the realm. One method employed was to
require twelve men of the neighborhood to give
facts under oath. From this usage of gaining
information there grew up in the courts the
practice of deciding disputes by the same agency
Rural claimants to an estate were decided
by the oath of twelve men, and were presented
to the court for trial by the oath of twelve men.
Trial by ordeal and trial by battle were also
methods of deciding cases by twelve sworn wit
nesses. 1t was when other ways failed that the
ordeal was ordered. The English method of wit
neSses or jurors, called cOmpurgatiOn. was eX-
tended to the surrounding country.
AS trial by battle and the ordeal was discOn-
tinued the custom became universal of forming
a jury of twelve to decide the guilt or innocence
of one presented for trial. This body was called
a petit jury, in distinction from the larger body
which made the accusation or Indictment. and
received the name of the grand jury. In the
time of Edward I'LL. 1927. witnesses We're added
to the jury. One hundred years later witnesses
were no longer added to the jury. but were eX-
amned and cross examined in open court.
Jurymen used their own knowledge of the
facts in making up their minds until 300 years
later, when they were required to decide wholly
upon evidence given in open court The jury
system was transplanted to America from Eng
land. Some of the states have abolished the
grand jury; in some a grand jury may be COM
posed of only five persons. In some states
jures of less number than twelve are authorized
in some of the lower courts. -Hitchcock Co.,
(Neb..) Republican,
Evading the Law.
gentleman was passing late at night over
POnt Neuf Paris with h lantern A man came
up to him and said :~-'Read this paper He
held up his lantern and read as follows
Speak not word when you've this read.
Or in an instant you'll be dead
Give us your money watch and rings
With other valuable things
Then quick in silence you depart.
Or |. with knife. will cleave your heart.
Not being a man of much pluck. the affrighted
gentleman gave up his watch and money and
ran off He soon gave the alarm and the high
wayman arrested
What have to say for yourself:" inquired the
magistrate before whom the robber was llshered.
THAT am not guilty of the robbery, though
took the watch and money!
why not guilty?" asked the magistrate.
simply because can neither read nor write.
picked up that paper just at the moment met
| this gentleman with a lantern. Thinking it
might be valuable, politely asked him to read it
| to me. He complied with my request and pres
emily handed me his watch and purse and ran
Off. supposed the paper to be of great value to
him. and thus he literally rewarded me for find
| ing it. He gave me no time to return thanks.
| which out of pOliteneSs. | was ready to perform.
The gentleman accepted the plea of the rObber
and withdrew his complaint. -InduStrial School
Gem
| Helped Steal His Own Hog.
a farmer living near Perth. Ala. helped steal
his own hog the other night. He awakened
from his sleep in the middle of the night and
asked by two men to assist them in loading
| hog which had tumbed out of the crate in their
wagon. He willingly gave helping hand, and
then returned to quiet sumbers. The next
morning he went to feed his porker, but there
was no porker to feed. 1t then dawned upon
him that he had helped load his own hog in the
wagon the night Observation-Disclosures City, Press
Gazette.
Wants Convict Wife.
| Warden Weyler recently received at the pen
I
there is young girl in your prison the age of 1G
or II. IS or 20 years who can be taken out by
marrying" The writer asked an answer and
signed the name of John MObley. adding the
names of his father and mother and the infOr-
nation that he was born in Wilson, n. c. No
address was given to which an answer to the
letter might be Sent.-BatimOre Sun.
She Stuck to Him.
Michael Carrier was engaged to Ellen Nervene
in Pennsylvania. Then he went to Jail in Ohio for
four years. parole was offered him. but he
wouldn't take it because he would have to stay
in the State Recently his term was finished