Middletown transcript., 1899-01-07
AN EXCITED LAWYER
A CASE THAT WORKED HIM UP TO
THE BURSTING POINT.

THE BURSTING POINT.
The Outrageous Conduct of Juror No.
and the Explanation Which
Changed the CounsePs Anger to
Limp Bevyilderment.
In my 90 years experience as a
practieing lawyer, y said we'll known
member of the bar at the Lawyers club
the other day, 81 don't believe ever
went through more exciting trial than
one took part in out at Freehold, N.
]. When I say exciting, mean excit-
ing for me, for was the only one who
appeared to be concerned about the CON-
duct of the man who occupied the sixth
seat in the jury box.
The case was civil action, and
represented the plaintiff. Itwasa small
matter, and we were suing for only
$500, but as my client happened to be
personal friend, and he was more
anxious to establish principle than to
collect any money, was out to win.
The judge was sedate individual,
who slept most of the time, and the
jury looked as though it had been draft
ed from the hayfelds. | scored well for
my client with the first witness and
was looking out Of the corner Of my eye
to see what effect the point had had
with the jury, when I noticed the
man in No. 6 sooWling furiously at me-
When / continued to make headway
with the next witness, he shook his
head, scowled and looked as though he'd
like to eat me up. The rest of the jury
men kept watching him, and I began to
think ! was up against a pretty stiff
proposition.
"Finally threw a question at wit
ness, which if honestly answered I
knew would establish our claim to dam
ages. No. evidently thought SO. too,
for he rose from his seat, shook his head
vigorously at the judge, and leaning
over the rail waited for the judges de-
cision, for by this time the defendants
counsel had made an objection.
"The judge ruled against me, and
No. fell back into his seat and laugh
GAS though it was the funniest thing
he had ever heard. / was mad clean
through by this time. Such outrageous
conduct I had never seen in court.
Your honor, I began protestingly.
"sGo on with the case, roared his
honor.
"'But, SIR I began, this is the
most extraordinary
"Go on with the case, interrupted
the judge once more, and seeing it was
vain to protest went on.
"Well, this thing went on all
through the trial. Every point made
brought scowl to the face of No. 6. |
Every point my opponent made brought
smiles to his face. When I summed up,
he kept shaking his head vigorously
and saying things in an ugly tone, but
under his breath. Once he threw his
hands up in the air in protest, and |
got SO mad that I could have hauled |
him out of that box and thrashed him |
with pleasure.
When the defense summed up, tho |
fellow grinned with delight. He shook |
his head approvingly at all the lawyer
said, and once. when the lawyer induIg-
ed in abuse Of me, he clapped his hands
together as though he was dying to ap-
piaud. During the judges charge he
scowled and smiled alternately, accord
ing to which side his honor favored.
We're gone, I whispered to my
client, and never engaged in better
case than this. Rather than submit to
such barefaced steal I'll fight this
case through every court in the state,
and without cent of fee too.
"The judge had finished by this time,
and the jury had risen to go out. To
my utter astonishment, No. 6 jumped
over the rail of the jury box, and going
over to where the defendant and his
lawyer sat clapped' the former on the
shoulder and said in a loud voice,
You II win sure. Here my indigna-
ion got the better Of me. Rushing over
% No. 6, I took him by the arm and
wheeled him around.
See here, sir, the jury has retired,
md you might better be with them
han talking to the defendant and his
jounsel.'
Why should I be with 'em?' he
eplied.
Why, good heavens, man, can the
Jury deliberate while you're in the
courtroom and they're elsewhere:'
Don't know why not, he replied.
/ amt no juror.
"'Then who the devil are your I
Iemanded.
He's my hired man, put in the
efendant.
"'Then what was he doing in the
ury box?' f.
:" Why, oonsarn it, there warn t an
ther seat in the room, said the hired
nan. Didn't suppose was goin ter
tand up, did yer?'
~ went back to my seat, completely
ewildered, and as I sat down the jury
anne in, having been ont five minutes.
hey gave me the verdict, and I was
ruly the most astonished man in the
tate of New Jersey at that moment.
II found out afterward that before /
egan active work in the case juror No.
had been sick for week and that the ,,
Their II jurors had been acting without
i'm under instruction from the court"
New York Sum-
False Alarm.
Wife ttime, midnight)-Harkl Hus-