The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1897-05-26
DISAGREED.

-. u - II T. tIt's
The triad | refer 10 was held last sum
MFR and WAS more OF less Irregular from
the beginning, The cause of it WAS an
ordinary swimming hole fight, To which,
| believe, no specific reference is made
in the statutory laws of Indiana, but
young Harvey tore the other boy :
clothes, which WAS not fair, and So the
victims mother set the machinery OF
the law iii motion.
Ii was Il hot afternoon, and the men
who were lingering in the shady places
around the little town were very glad
of some excuse, however fragile to keep
them from work.. and the real fact was
that every man III town wanted to be
on thu jury, although 10 hear them pro
test one might get an entirely different
impression
AShury Summers was playing eroquet
with three others ON a vacant lot he
tween two store buildings
Why. can 20, he said to the
constable who approached him. I've
got business ON hand Why don't you
pick up some of these fellows that have
nothing to do2'
"0b, come along, Asbnryln said Doc
Miller. I'm goiup. Wc1i yet through
in an hour ="
.aWrU If we eould finish that soon
wouIdn' t mind If. " said Asbury. he
went aloug
They secured a iury in very short o,.
der aud went in To- trial The case
seemed simple enoush. There was very
little evidence To hear. and il WAS NOT
contradictory. 1t was simplv n plaip
fight. and the MYERS how had GOT the
worst Of il. as was shown hy a few
scratches on hia faeo and his torn
clothes.
1t was plain case. There was no
doubt that young Harvey was guilty of
the assault The deputy prosecutor, in
the absence Of Il lawyer for the defense,
stated both sides of the case fairly, and
the jury rctircd--or, To speak precisely.
the squire and the audience went out
leaving the jury in possession Of the
courtroom.
As is usual, the jury discussed the
points for II few minutes in noncUm-
initial way and then took vote. They
stood seven for conviction and five for
acqnittal After the first vote the lines
We're sharply drawn and the real argu-
mont began. The crowd under the win
dow couldn't really get much satisfac-
ton out of the debate, because the
jurors seemed to be all talking at once.
Only once in awhile they could hear
the voice Of Asbury Summers in dec
laration something like this:
You can talk till next week if you
want to, but I'll never vote to convict.
It's against my principles. I'll give you
to understand right now, gentlemen,
I'm swimmin hole man "
Within an hour things quoted down
somewhat in the courtroom The jury
took another vote, in which they stood
just the same, and then they began TO
realize that they were in for it. The
crowd below understood from outward
signs that there was hitch somewhere,
and they lost interest TO some extent
and struggled off. Later the people,
lingering in little groups on the corners
and at front gates. wondered what WIS
the matter with the jury.
The constable opened the door slight
ly now and then and peepod in. When
everything had got quiet in the town
the deputy prosecutor, with two other
men, came up the stairs and beckoned
to the constable.
How are they getting along" he
asked.
Seems to be Il square stand off. "
Lets have a little game Of cinch in
my Office till thoy make M their minds. -
So the constable went back, and,
opening the door slightly, looked his
charge over. Three or four were prop
ped back against the wall asleep and
one was lying ON the table. The others
We're sitting with their feet i'll the three
outside windows. He tiptocd back aud
said he Guessed everything was all
right.
At midnight the jury took another
vote, and then most Of them went off IT,
sleep again. Asbury Summers looked
out into the hall, and, seeing that the
constable's chair was vacant, he beck
oned to Doc Miller and ene of the letter
OF the law men, who We're the only