The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-05-02
JURIEs FOR SENSATIONAL TRIALS
New Mode of Selecting Them in New York
to Avoid DELAYS

to Avoid Delays
New York, May 1.-The bill for a new
jury system in sensa tional cases draft
ed by Justice Barrett of the supreme
court, with the assistance Of Justices
lngraham and Beckman, has now be-
come a law and will be put into opera
tion, Judge Barrett said today, within
twenty days. The act is called: AN
act providing for a special jury in GRIM
inal cases in each county of the state
having certain population, and for
the mode of selecting and procuring
sLAh special jury; also creating a spe-
cial jury commissioner for each OF such
counties and regulating and prescrib-
ing his duties
This law is the result of the blocking
ofthecourts caused by criminal cases.
especially notorious criminal cases. The
calendars were cOngested as a result of
the attempt to try these cases, one of
which often took several months AS
Judge Barrett explained, the exploit
ing criminal cases in the newspapers
ana the consequent opinions formed on
them by the public made it very difficult
10 ma Jurors without bias. as It re-
qulres such high degree of intelligence
10 discriminate between impressions
hearsay and judicial evidence that the
ordinary juror says with perfect hon
eSty rht his prejudices have become. SO
firmly rooted that he cannot try the
case fairly upon the evidence. The OBJ
Ject OF this law is 70 free the court from
the necessity of going through a long
selecting process 10 ind men OF sufi-
cent intelligence to try such cases
This work is now 10 be performed by
an official under legislative instruction
and judicial authority. who makes 2
list or names which, by the provision Of
the act, must be al least 5000 This
provision was put n as an amendment
70 secure the element Of chance in the
selection OF the jury. The commission
er makes this list from the regular LIST
jurors He examines them primarily
Tor Intelligence. but also for the regular
qualifications OF jurors. At first II was
intended 70 have MS decision final, but
in order TO avoid any question OF con
stltutionality. an amendment was added
allowing challenges IN just the same
way as al present. Judge Barrett said
today that this amendment would not
make the saving OF time apprecia5lv
less. as TO court viii give much a+ra1-
ton 70 challenges Of the intelligence Of
these picked men. The courts ruling
IS not subject 70 exception.
The main provision OF the b;l are as
follows: The Office @ SPECIAL commits
sioner OF Jurors : created for each
county Of the state having a population
OF 50o.eoo or more. according % the last
state enumeration OF inhabitants. The
Serm OF the Office shall b. Eve years.
and il shall De flle1 by appointments to
be made by the appellate division Of
zhe supreme court N The department
within which each county embraced BY
the act Is situated Within twenty
days after :he passage OF The. act. and
from tine - time SIS a vaeaacy shall
occur. = majority Q. the justices o. the
appellate division os the supreme cOurt
IN the department within which each
county embraced BY the act Is situated.
shall appoint a suitable person 70 be
special COMMENSURATE o. iu-ors for such