Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-03
TOO HOT FOR THE JURY
30 They Lost Little Time in Bringing In Q
le Verdict
Judge kimball Had Locked Them On
ana Threatened to Leave Them
TheiA All the Afternoon.

Judge Kimball Of the Police Court of the
District of Columbia holds the time record
for bringing. a stubborn jury to terms The
| incident occurred Oh torrid afternoon dur
Ing the past week, and was very amusing
indeed to those not members of the panel.
but incidentally, not to the defendant.
The case in question was one involving
the sole of liquor without a license, and
the defendant was an old colored woman
bearing the simple colonial name, Mary
Smith, Mary had been convicted of the
same charge twice before, and the testi-
mony throughout her third trial seemed,
to those who followed 1t, to polat con-
clusively to the guilt of the woman. The
hearing occupied but short time and the
jury retired about IL o'clock in the morn
ing.
Now, the consultation room for the Jury
OF the Police Court is of rather limited pro-
portions. 1t Is located in the center of the
northern extremity of the building and Is
provided with only one window; A narrow
areaway intervenes between this window
and brick wall, on which the sun, when
1t shows itself, has full play morning and
afterncen. 1t will be seen that 1t is prac-
ticaily an -impossibility for the faintiest
semblance Of a breeze to penetrate the
Jury room. 1t may be well to add that On
the coolest days in winter those familiar
with the circumstances are in the habit
o. o. visiting .ti the room in order to get warm:
On scorcher' in summer, with tho door
closed, the room may tru;bfully be likened
to an oven doing holiday business.
such was the Enclosure to which the jury
IN the Mary Smith case retired. Bailifr
Darr closed and locked the door behind the
jury, and not sound was heard within for
exactly two hours. Some apprehension
IVES felt for the condition of the twelve
men, and suggestions that they were roast
ed brown or had melted were made. The
ba11n was about to institute an inquiry
When a t1mid knock was heard on the door
moment later twelve mens perspi,ing
filed into court. and to the query of the
clerk: Gentlemen of the jury, have you
agreed upon verdict?' the foreman re-
Piled In the negative. and addressing the
court said: Judge, there seems no DOS
sibiity of our reaching an agreement"
This case is exceptionally clear" re-
marked Judge Kimball quietly, land no
reason can possibly exist why you should
not propose to put the government to the
expense of another trial when the facts are
so plain. Retire. gentlemen, and deliberate
further
their faces the twelve men very much
tried and true were again locked in the
very small and very hot ROOM Half an
hour later The current business of the day
Of the court the bailifr inquired at the jury
room door II any progress had been made
Through the small crack as the bailiff open
ed the door slightly it was seen that the
jury were in the scantiest possible attire
tanning furiously with their hats.
There Is; no chance of a verdict" the
foreman was heard to say In tones that
were really sad. a,'Can we go out and get
NO" said Judge Kimball sternly, rising
from his chair. MIR. Bailr, notify the jury
that 1 will return at 7 o'clock this even
ing" Il
The effect wass really startling. There
was a simultaneous exclamation from
twelve menn in the room, followed by q
chorus of. please wait a minute judge"
1t was too late.! Judge Kimball had dis
appeared down the private stairway and
could not be overtaken by the messenger
who set out in pursuit Of him, the man
saying that the Judge had boarded an cleo
trio car and passed out Of sight.
We've agreed, "othe foreman notified the
bailif. Wont you send for the judge?"
1t was just f1fty-nine minutes later when
Judge KtfnbaN put In an appearance Close
observers imagined that smile was en-
deavoring. to, disturb his usually placid
countenance as he mounted the bench
The verdict was guilty" and the jury
was discharged for the term with the
thanks Of the court, The members Of the
panel made some remarks as they passed
out. but II il perhaps best not to quote
them.