Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1895-08-30
The Mentality of Jurors,

The following article on the psycholog-
ical condition of jurors in criminal trials
is taken from the Scientific American
them In a court room six hours day, and ex-
pect them to observe closely, remember and
reason soundly on the evidence offered, with no
guide except some general principles Of law and
equity. They are also expected to exercise
judgment and discrimination of facts that re-
quire training in the most favorable surround
ings. In reality the ordinary jury Ia selected
from active working men unused to contine-
ment, and unable to think andreason coniin
uously on any topic outside of their everyday
They are unframed to discern the probable
facts tn contested case. and understand the
real from t the apparent In the arguments Of
counsel. The confinement of the court room,
its bad, vitiated atmosphere, with the changed
diet OF hotels In q long trial. make them still
more more IN 1nht: grouping OF some facts will make
der trial seven farmers on the jury were con-
fined five days in the court room and hotel,
IN bed os %.fs s
OF confinement, overeating, and bad, poisoned
air, with mental strain to accommodate them
more unstable and uncertain. After the third
or fourth day the Judgment of an average juror;
dwindles into caprice and changeable whims. A
certain number will become possessed with
dominant idea concerning the case, which will
grow under any circumstances irrespective of
MI TchbOu Ut Judgment. ~ becomes uI6fAly an
''obsession," that is not changed, although
another view may be accepted for present pur.
poses. Others will be thoroughly confused and
to any conclusion. The evidence will be a
chaotic mass, from which they are unable to
extricate themselves The longer the trial. the
the lead Of the majority in despair Of anything
better. Another cless becomes more and more
Indifferent to tho merits Of the case as their
physical condition deteriorates their only in
terest is to reach the END Of the trial; like the
former class, they sit istless, neither seeing nor
hearing ANYTHING with intelligence. At the
Another class Of superficial vain men take great
satisfaction In the power this position brings
them, and are governed in In their judgments BY
excellent judgment and will decide in such
way, they follow this advice, evidently. There
are always men with mental twist or bias in
the average jury. In good surroundings and in
good health this would he concealed, but after a
day or more In the court room It becomes
dominant factor: Strong religious, temperance
ever the man becomes at variance with his sur
roundtngs, and its natural physical and psy-
ehical influences. .ue1: Lowering and changing the
him more intolerant of the divergent views of
others After the second or third day of a trial,
some facts apply along these lines are always
enectual. Emotional, tmpulsive men, who are
controlled largely by the surroundings, are
always objects Of concentrated interest by
sirewd lawyers. In the first part of the trial
they are not 30 influential as later, when the
mental status has dropped down; then they
may become infused with certain conceptions Of
the case, particularly for punishment or acquit-
tai. The morals of jury a long trial are
lowered markedly near the end of the case. II
undue influence is used or II such influences are
purchased, time to do this IL when the effects OF
confinement, bad air. food and arrangement Of
the physical system appear. However honest
jury Of average men may be, a .ckanse OF sur
roundings and physical vigor will react on their
conceptions of right and wrong and strangely
incapacitate them. If any of the jury are in
valids. or huve been confined with dietetic or
neurotic diseases In the past, the changed con-
ditions of the jury room are very likely to
bring out soma entailinents of this condition.
still further eomplicating their mental sound.
ness Pessimistic men who are In ill health are
always ready to recognize guilt and infiict
punishment In every case. Their ideas of justice
are always based on vengeance and punish
ment. The suspicion of crime is always
reality and evidence to the contrary is decep-
ton. Many of these men In excellent physical
surroundings would act and reason with fair
ness. but change the surroundings aud deg rec
Of health and they are unsound and unreliable
The psychology of jury a long trial
furnishes a range Of facts that, when understood
the verdict Of these mea could be predoted with
great certainly, no matter what the evidence
may be-