The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-02-05
JURY BILL ENDORSED
Hudson County Bar Association
Approves Of the Change
Measure Discussed.

"A ndlQIul OIL the SutNlNOiS VI tiS fCA
Association Inner on Thursday nightmet
yesterday afternoon, in Chancery Cham-
hers, to discuss the proposition to change
the present system of drawing Jurles,
grand and petit, taking it from the hands
of the Sheriff and placing it in the hands
of a commission.
In the absence of President Charles H..
Hartshorne, Mr.. Marshall Van Winkle,
vice president, presided, and there were
present Messrs. w. B.. Williams, c. C.
Black, j. w. Heck, Isaac Roma1ne, ).
Wahl Queen, C. Kelsey, Warren Dixon.
| Robert Carey, James Anderson, Henry
Ewald and r.. Duffy.
The resolution of Mr.. w. B. Williams
at the last meeting to approve of the
new act was taken up and discussed.
Mr.. Dixon drew attention to the alb
| serce of a quorum and said it would be
unwise to pledge the association TO the.
measure when so few were present. 1t
was decided, however, to listen to a
statement of Mr.. C. C. Black as to- the
scope of the bill.
Mr.. Black read the report of the COM
mission and said that in a nutshell the
measure was intended to establish a
trial in the courts by men who are not
selected to accomplish certain results. He
did not, in the advocacy of the bill,
charge any ~wrongdoing on the part OF
ANY Sheriff, but the main thing was to
avoid putting into the hands of any one
man-such a power. He had examined
systems in New England and other States
and had arrived at the conclusion that
the only logical system was that which
preserved the trial by jury. The subject
should be fully and freely criticized.
President Van Wrinkle. leaving thechair,
asked Mr.. Black since he had taken part
in the framing of the bill. if the commits
sion had taken any notice of the ma
jority verdict plan, that is, the doing
away with the necessity of twelve men
coming to one mind on any given ques-
ton.
THAT was too radical replied Mr..
Black.
well, there is another question" con-
tinued Mr.. Van Wrinkle, did you, Mr..
Black, consider the question of the time
for the jury to come into court n do
ing away with jurors having to stay
away days and nights?"
Yes, we considered that" replied Mr..
Black, .'but We thought it should rest
with the Court, and we didn't NEEDLE
with that natter
Then continued Mr.. Van Wrinkle,
"the bill, l think, meets the main require
ments and that is to take the drawing OF
jurors out of the hands of the politicians.
The Bar Association, L THINK, Snoulu en-
dorse the act"
Mr.. Robert Carey approved of the meas
ure because it would elevate the class OF
Jurors. We have had enough, in this
| county of partisan juries, and we ought
| to indorse it. Should any amendments be
| considered necessary afterwards it would
be easy to pass them.
Mr.. Warren Dixon objected in the main
to the disqualification of men who were
eminently fit to do jury duty. The pres,
ent bill shut out DOCTORS, lawyers and
others who would make the best Jurors.
That feature was, in his opinion, the
chief defect of the bill.
Mr.. J. Vail Queen said that the pres
ent system of drawing jurors is one
which has been outgrown by conditions
which exist in counties of the first-class.
Something ought to be done, and the
duty of the members of the Bar was not
to stop at Hudson county, but make a
| careful study of the bill and go before
the committee at Trenton to make what
recommendations the members might in
tee then would gain a broader view of
the subject. A committee should be
appointed to go to the committee of the
| LEGISLATURE and express the views of the
Bar. Mr.. Queen named on that commit
tee Messrs. Williams and Black.
Mr.. James Anderson urged the indorse-
| ment by the association of the present
measure. He moved to indorse the bill,
| but Mr.. Queen said it wouldn't do since
| there wasn't a quorum; it would be I'M
wise to bind the association by the ac-
ton of q. handful of men. Since no one
| seemed precisely to know hew many con-
stitutedf a quorum, Secretary Henry
| EwaId t~elephoned to his office. where the
| rules were kept. In a few minutes he
| returned. saying that twelve was. a
| quorum, and Brother Anderson, who had
been aching to have-the bill Endorsed,
beamed with happiness.
The motion to indorse the bill was car
ried with a string to it, which Mr.. Carey
appended. The association then adj
jOurned.