The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-12-26

An hour passed and there had been
no signal from the jury room. Gradual
~ the crowd of walters had diminished
until but less than dozen remained.
Soon the dozen dwindled to a, half dozen
and from a half dozen to one, and final
ly the last waiter left the corridors of
the court house. Before the bell of
the Church of the Assumption sounded
six o'clock the second floor of the court
house was absolutely deserted with the
exception of the twelve jurors locked in
their room, and Bailiff John COyne and
a State Journal representative.
Six o'clock passed and another half
hour and Bailif Coyne whiled away the
time telling Irish stories. A few minutes
past the half hour Sheriff Cook knocked
for admission at the outer door. His
visit was for the purpose of delivering a
message to Bailiff Coyne. q will go up
town and arrange for supper for yOu
and the jurors" he said, "and when 1
come back you can take them up and
let them feed"
Bailiff COyne understood the arrange
ment and Sheriff Cock left. Hardly had
the sound of his footsteps on the stone
pavement of the corridor died away
when the electric ''buzZer' above the
judges desk gave out whizzing sound
clear and distinct and perfectly audible
in the Judges cham bers. BaiIiff COyne
almost leaped from the chair he had
just settled in at the first sound and
with open mouth listened a moment for
a repetition. 1t did not come, and 4
huge sigh escaped the bailiff. ''I Won
as he trudged down the hall to the door
of the jury room.
Arrangement of Signals.
The sound of the ''buzzer" was a call
from the jury. Just within the door of
the room is a small electric button and
a card pasted beneath it. The card
bears this information:
1 ring for bailiff.
2 rings for water.
8 rings for verdict.
v-s,, i
jury wanted the bailiff He unlocked the
door and stuck his head a few inches
side
'NVe're getting hungry, john" called
out one of the jurors. How about sup
per2"
The bailiff simply shook his head as
much as he could between the door and
the frame.
Don't we get any?" shouted several
of them in voices that denoted painful
surprise.
Again the bailif simply shook his
head. It was the signal for several jur-
ors to jump to their feet.
What no supper?" they exclaimed.
The bailif realized that he could not
leave the jurors in such a state of agi-
tation. Il can't talk to you." he sair
abruptly and slammed the door.
a few minutes later Sheriff Cook
again knocked for admission and said
that all was in readiness. Bailiff COyne
put on his hat and coat, and then went
to the door of the jury room and opened
it two or three inches. Get ready for
supper" he said.
There was a hum Of voices and the
noise Of scrambling feet in the jury
room and presently some one called
back:
Were ready for supper"
Bailiff COyne opened the door and the
u jurors came out. He slammed it af-
ter them and the door of the hall as he
made his exit, and pushing the, Jurors
right and left as they walked down the
stairs to the first floor he took the lead.
Out of the south door of the court house
the 13 men walked and along Fifth
street in double file. They passed the
jail and each man involuntariIy looked
up at the grated windows. Even then
probably every one of the u had his
mind made up as to the guilt or inno-
cence of the defendant.