The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1898-03-09
1T WAS MOCK.
Mock Trial-Mock Lawyers-Mock Judge
and Mock Jury--But they had Lots Of

Mock Trial-Mock Lawyers-Mock Judge
and Mock Jury--l,nt they had Lots Of
Fun.
LITTLE FALLS, Mar. Milton Coombs
has finished bis work OF getting out
cross ties and has delivered them at the
track. Clyde Stansberry and Evans
Trippett are engaged in the cross-tie
work also, and will soon have their con-
tract fulfilled.
! Several rumors confirm the belief that
we will soon have wedding to report
the cooking stove has been purchased.
Local news is very scarce here and
lacks variety.
We had very interesting mock
trial at our school house last Wednes-
day night. They came from the four
corners; standing room was at a premi-
um and the reservation of seats was al
most an impossibility, even for the jury
men. We take great interest in these
trials asstheysare not only:interestingIbu
Instructive. There was considerable
difficulty and great deal of time lost in
impaneling jury. An arson case was
tried many more cases are on the dock
ct and will come up next court. The
defendant got sick very suddenly on the
eve of the trial and preferred sixty
days-in-jail postponement; but a sub
stitute was obtained and the trial was
not delayed. But in reviewing the
mock trial, we will not even attempt to
give all the details for your paper; yet
we will endeavor to convince some Of
your readers that mock trials are very
important, and to correct some wrong
impressions among few others regard
| ing the momentous event. On the eve
OF the 23d, the flower OF the city of Uf-
6ngton, with garland crowns of many
victories on their heads, the prestige OF
q new and glorious conquest stamped on
their brows, and Boosting that they had
never met defeat at their pet island
home, came to our little village to en-
gage 10 judicial combat on our notorious
arson case. The Judge was selected by
the defendants counsel, yet they we're
the first to find. fault with his rulings.
The majority of the jurymen were Of the
"Upper Crust" and Sin the SWIM
with the urban crowd-perhaps this ac-
counts for the remark that the counsel
were unequally divided in talent and
weight-may be personal influences.
1t was a great surprise that the prison
er's counsel should kick against their
own selection for judge and try to form
a precedent for him by quoting decis.
ion of some other judge. Wise counsel
Indeed One juryman who was prejudice
ed against at least one Of the prosecu
tors, was marked off; but was allowed
to remain on account Of the tediousness
of impaneling a jury prosecutor told
counsel for defendant that the case W as
lost to the state by having him on; he
was very eager to see certain papers in
1 <,f hn IN
j ryman knew the writing. The States
attorneys then wanted said juryman te
assume the role Of witness, and the
sheriff to place new jurymen In the box
and when the jusy went for verdict he
: yelled, that they should clear him, boys
for he would hang it till doomsday
We wonder whether it was his extDme
love for one Of the defendants attorneys
his righteous indignation, the fear OF
losing This job under one Of the defend
ants witnesses, or his extreme hatred
against one Of the prosecuting counsel
that caused him to be SO active in be-
half Of the defendants pettifoggers
y, consistency, thou are jewell The
Jury stood eight to four in favor OF &C
quital, and finally nine to three, but the
defendants counsel were sas much sur
prised that there was not verdict oil
of guilty instead OF hung jury as the
people in general. There were many
objections to questions by the defend
ing attorneys and sympathiserc. Alas,
alas, dear pettifoggers from near the
Isle OF Soup, that your ingenious soph-
listries did not seenre you on the YER
tiginous heights OF famel Fie, thai
with such prestage and talents, you
should gloat at the opportunity to gain
q victory over the imbecility Of the
states counsel. As evidence that mock
trials in the country are considered o
importance, Messrs. Editors, we have
appended list Of some Of the classes
represented At the trial: Merchants
blacksmithe, school ma'ams and mas
ters. Intelligent young ladies and Gentle
mep. farmers, sweetheavts and beaux.