Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1898-09-01
The Blind Leading the Blind.

The Staunton Daily News says that
the late Judge William Mclaughlin eX-
erclsed great care in selecting men for
jurors in his court. That he knew all
the best men in his district not only by
name, but he knew their faces, where
they lived and how they stood among
their neighbors. That when he made
out Jury lists he picked his men just as
he would have done if he had had per-
sonal interest in the result of their de-
alterations. No man ever went on one
of his juries by chance, adds the News,
and if Judge McLaughlin's jury lists
in Augusta county were made public,
every man familiar with the inhabi-
tants of the county would say that 1t
was a roll of honor.
That is a high tribute and every judge
in the commonwea lth should follow
Judge Mclaughlin experience. In
deed we could name several judges, who
to our own personal knowledge, do fol
low this course and exercise great dis
erection in making their selections. we
know of one judge. for example, VINO
never permits negro juror to slt IN
case where one of his own color IS Oh
trial, for the reason that, i'll his opinion
it is simply impossible in such case
| for a negro juror to divest himself ell
tirely of race prejudice.
| But the great difficulty in this State
as we pointed out the other day, is tina
| in some sections SO many OF the pes
men are exempt from jury service, tina
| it is often difficult matter for judge
| to get such jurors as he would nave
and so he must do the best that he Car
| with the material in hand.-Ric amon(
Times, Saturday, p.
We are surprised that the Time
should have fallen into this error, bu
can understand it better when we SCI
that it was led into it by the'Daily New
of this city. Those who follow the New
are apt to find themselves quick.
stranded. and we caution our honoret
Richmond contemporary against rep
etition of this mistake, and proffer TIL
| advice in return for some given us
few days ago. Judge Mclaughlin need
no enconium from US to add to his wei
earned fame, and the life of Judge Nc
Laughlin needs 10 mistaken praise t
make it an honorable and dignified one
nor would his friends desire praise givel
| for virtue he did not merit, and
work he did not perform. The Cod
provides how jurors are chosen and /
| will be readily seen that Judge Nc
Laughlin, nor any other circuit judge il
Virginia for that matter. has the slight
est thing to do with selecting juries
further than putting his hand into
box and pulling out slip of paper wit
the name of a juror written thereon.
| Sec. 3142 of the Code. chap. 152, say
in substance. The Judge of the Com
ty Court shall annually at the May Q
June term prepare list of such inhat
itants of the county as are qualified t
serve as jurors.
Another section requires the name
on this list to be put On slips OF pape
and deposited i'll box which is deliver
ed TO the county clerk for safe keeping
Sec. 3145 provides that all jurors n
quired for the trial of civil cases IN an
circuit court, shall be selected by draw
ing the ballots from that box. 1h
drawing Judge Mclaughlin sometime
did, but it was pelfunctory, any chi
: could have done 1t as well. Judge M
J Laughlin had no more to do aOith II
) selection of those jurors than the En-
, peror of China. Thus ignorance ofte
leads to error, and whilst this is commc
7 with our home neighbor, we were NJ
} prepared for it in our Richmond co
temporary.
1t is funny to read the sapient L
} marks of the News. Observe its e
pressions. Judge Mclaughlin exc
, cised great care in selecting men fl
I iurors.'7 "He knew where they live
and how they stood among their neig
2 bors.". Look at this. when he mac
out jury lists, he picked his men," He
l again. mo man ever went on one
his juries by chance" and then Il
t grand finale. eff Judge Mclaughlin
S Jury lists in Augusta county were maj
public" &c. This is too good to kee
: Who would have cOncocted such a L
nance but the News? Who would ha,
e followed such lead but the Times?
John Richards, of Elizabeth, w. Va
t was killed by the wheels of a dray
e was driving passing over his hea
i