New-York tribune., 1900-02-12
JURORS PLEDGE WE'LL KEPT
METHOD OF THEIR ARRIVING AT A
VERDICT HELD SACRED.

The Molineux jurors were exceedingly elusive
yesterday and a rule would not see newspaper
men. At the homes Of several jurors the ser
wants had been instructed to refuse to take in
any messages.
George Edgar was returning from a walk with
his two young children when Tribune reporter
called yesterday afternoon at his home, No. Il
West Ninety-second-st He was asked If he
could not say at least something about the evil
dence which served to influence the jury's YER
dict
I'VE got enough evidence to convict" was Mr
Edgar's reply, "and 1 will not say what particu-
larly appealed TO Our pledge IN the jury
room not to reveal what occurred there is
as solemn as a Masonic oath, and 1t will never
be broken so long as live, should 1t be thirty
forty years or a week This pledge is equally
| binding on all the members of the jury
The reporter suggested that many intelligent
persons who had followed the closely in
| the newspapers greatly surprised at the
verdict and thought that on the evidence pre-
sented Molineux should have been acquitted.
"Why?' asked Mr- Edgar. WAS it on account
of his father?"
1t was urged that in view Of the fact that the
verdict had been surprise to many persons the
! public curiosity TO the evidence which par
ticularly influenced the jury. and why. after all.
| it took about eight hours to find verdict, was
| natural in the circumstances.
Mr.. Edgar replied: The public will get
1t from me-
At the home of the sick Juror Mannheim Brown.
| No. 219 West Forty-fourth-st, Mrs Brown said
| her husband had been in bed all day resting.
| He suffered no pain, but only from weakness.
and hoped to be about soon. He had made
| comment on the Molineux case further than to
say: It's settled. The mans convicted"
Frederick Billings. Of No 279 Madison-ave,
| sent out word in reply to message begging to
| be excused. Herbert G. Thompson, of No. %
| East Forty y-seventh-st., had nothing to say for
| publication, and the foreman, Matthias l.. B.
Martin, of No. % West Ninety -sixth-st and L.
| s. Foster Of No. III West Ninetieth-st would
not be seen.
Mr.. Hynes. the undertaken, was found seated
| in his shop reading the Sunday papers. He at
hrst absolutely declined to discuss the case, ex-
planning about the admOnition of the Recorder
and their promise of secrecy to one another.
Il tell you" said he, refectively lone thing is
! certain. 1 shall never act juror again. No.
Sir Not for me. l shall simply go in and pay
my 500, and let that end it, Why, I wouldn't
| go through another such again for ten
| times that sum. L Will pay the fine and consider
1 got off lightly. Then there's old General Moli-
| a man"
Here the undertaken paused. put his face in
| ms hands moment, then, hastily dashing the
| back of his hand across his eyes and smiling
! suspiciously, he continued:
Why, my heart just bled for that old hero
There were only two three of the jurors who
mad children, and our hearts bled for him. for
we could just see how he wrapped up in
that that boy No. sir, I would forfeit my 500 or
SooO before / would sit in another like that
| 1t hurt me to give that old pain but we
| had our duty to perform-our sworn duty-and
| under the evidence, as il honestly appeared to
me and the way 1t was presented to U.S. there
was but one thing TO do. Render the verdict
we did.
"All the jury were strong men, except one per
| haps, and men of strong opinions. Gentlemen too
! every one Of them, and with the high apprecia-
! ton each had Of his duty there was only one
thing to do-bring in q verdict as our con-
sciences dictated. / would be only too glad il
Mr.. Molineux could find evidence that would
fully exonerate his son. There is no man who
would rather see that than 1, and I think all
the jurors feel that way. Never before would
L be so glad to see myself mistaken and dis.
proved but under the evidence presented to us
that all we could do"