Evening journal., 1899-06-13
SELECTION OF JURORS.

A.iHt ALI ANulihriNt ~ q NaNuAUtN NJ |
tile mcnthly publication devoted to le-
gal, matters, and the May number com
talns a valuable artiu.e On uhe selection !
-I jurors, which we quote because of
The perncious SYSTEM OF seiectiEg
Jurors in vogue in h.s stake. Case and
Comment says:
The strength OF the jury system las
III uhe fact uhat a jury represents The
whole people It's chief value would
be lost If jur.es constituted a particular
class OF people But us ch.af fault has
been that jurors were too often below
plps average Level OF intelligence and
character. A gold jury must have in
te.leeulce fully up 10 the average, and
am integrity THAI IS net measured by
any averages bun Is free from suspicion.
Honest men OF, at least, ordinary i'm
ltelligence, taken unfortunately frcm
al ranks. classes and occupations, are
indispensable to The proper working Of
the jury system.
IAN improvement Of this system has
a,ready been made I'm many places, but
Is yet imperaltiye.y demanded i'm other
places Am Address by David Cross re-
Gently made before the Judiciary C m-
mlittee cf the New Hampshire House
cf Representative makes a strong de-
mand forthe adorIlion OF the system OF
jury commissioners I'm that state, and
Says THAT I'm evory City OF the United
States I'M which IT has been adopted
THE result has been better jurcrs and q
better administration OF Justice. This
address is valuable and gives mu,h in-
f.hmation concerning THE different
modes cf selecting jur.es I'M different
states Political considerations IN the
lseleatlcn Of jurors are peculiarly perni-
lcicus. The men 10 whom tlhe selection
is favcr are almost invariably unfit
/ FIJI men usually sit at sacrifice and
do mot ask for appciuUment as a po-
ltical tavor "a commissioner CIR board
OF commissioners charged with the
duty az selecting the genera. county
list is mulch more free from local and
\ personal Influences than amy town or
ward officer. who must make the So
leot.ln from his own nd.ghbOrs, some
lCf whom have n personal claim upon
him for thelr support Of him i'm politi-
cal caucus and at the polls In ciuiee
where ward bosses have acquired a
: lstrcng grip this pONtlcal SELECTION OF
/. jurors reaches It's worst phase, and THAT
Is aggravated by the selection Of tales
+, men from the Count House hangers ON
without I.her visible means cf euppcrt
who are known as professional jurors
The magnhfying CT objects may prove
, lapy human Institution TO be mCnstrous
In this way domagogues can work uI
b.taer opposition to anythlng IN Church
? or state, and craCk-brained theOrist,
I, with honest hut Eitifus error turr
2 themselves into anarchists. Ideal aid
q lminlstratiOn OF Justice can be had only
o when the men who administer IL arr
perfect. But the defdc,s of ihe jui-
system have been far more glaring than
was necessary i'm THE present s'ate G.
b scc.ety. lAis was due to ngud'essn
C lad methods Of selection. Public at
tendon has rocently fixed itself on dhl
subject. with coed results already il
many places and good prospects, ~
others. The Constitutionall.y OF a laB
e providing for selection OF special lis
s fer criminal trla's, by a special jur,
"a commissioner. I'm counties having
certain population, IS uIhe.d by TIM
recent Nov York case of People v
u Dunn. l57 n. Y. SOS. 43 l.. r. A. 2i7
D. l1na G nsiiutlcnalltB az q statue pro
Is viding for a struck jury when deems
IL necessary by either party s
lurhs,d I'm the Mcnnesota cas-
lCf Lommm VS.. Minneapolis Ga
Iight Ccmapny 80 L. r. A. 437. an
SIMILAR laws have been upheld In othe
s. Estates.
'e Buy tha m,1. Important Legislation
a on tAa sL1idt Is phat wt.sh provide
fer gccd jurors en- THE genoras 1ls
ara uct merely for spocia, cases or
"a Especial oinss lf cases. A. county jur
&c commissioner chosen Icy .he judges 6
A. tha county seems especia-y lakely {
Il, give satisfactory service. III arpc'rts
By THE Ccuris. NE will be mere libtly {
W be free icm rcrEglcal influences and
l' make his selection purely in the Intel
or eats Of lhe administration az jus Dee