The age-herald., 1900-11-23
SKETCHES FROM
 EVERYDAY LIFE

"A queer incident happened in this court onee," said the deputy clerk, when a juror raised the judge"
 It was Monday morning and the court was organizing juries for the week The jurors came from all parts of the county some from the city and some from that vague and indefinite section generally spoken of as the backwoods. The judge carefully explained to the jurors that if any of them were ineligible they should let it be known He then explained the legal grounds that made juror ineligible, such as being under 21 years of age or over O. having served as a juror in the court within the past year, etc.
 When the judge got through his ex- planation he asked the jurors if any of them were ineligible.
 a I am, jedge, said one of the jurors who came from the vague and indefinite sec ton of the county heretofore mentioned.
 ' On what ground are you ineligible? asked the judge.
 SC a Populite, said the juror. Down my way they don't allow them sort to serve a jury
 'The judge explained to him that that was not legal ground and that up this way 'Popuites' could serve on the jury.
 Say, jedge, said the juror, I'd like ter get excused, cause my wife is liable to die before git home.
 We'll said the judge, that is a differ ent matter It is not legal excuse, but if your wife is ill I will excuse you Is she very sick?
 ' No sir; she ain't sick as I knows of
 xHv1I1 by telling me that she was liable to die before you got home?'
 Beca'se, jedge, you never kin tell what might happen-especially with women.
 Is that so? said the judge Perhaps I should pay for such valuable information, but as it is I will let you pay, and find you $25 for contempt of court
 '''Sey, jedge, I'll see you that $25 and raise you $25-make it $5O.'
 "'All right said the judge, I'll call you. You can pay the clerk $50 and then go home
 He paid the money.'
 "One of my duties which I have occa- sionally to fulfill" said another clerk. lis to stay all night with jury which has failed to reach d verdict at the hour
 
 per time the jury is absolutely sure not tc reach verdict until after supper, and if not shortly after supper, then they will not agree on verdict until the following morning. I take charge of the jury during the night and have to listen to their anec- dotes and stories. There are a good many stories on themselves which they never tell.
 sO1,n county when he got home was highly while in Birmingham and was telling his friends about his experience. He had been here a week and in some way had man. aged to be on juries that were out every night of the week. Consequently he was fed at the county's expense. There may be an art known to certain jurors in thus living on the county.
 Boys" he was saying, "I tell you they do the square thing by you in Birming ham. Why they took us to a restaurant where ever mans meals were served on httle plates so he could choose what he wanted. And the best thing of all,'' he said twas that they gave you a new handker- chief with every meal"
 "To verify his statement he then drew six napkins from his pocket, each of which bore the name of the restaurant at which he had taken his meals.
 "It is not generally known" continued the clerk, that sentence pronounced by judge can be changed by him on his own motion any time during that term of court. This ignorance of law, which the law says excuses no one, once cost man ten months in jail.
 1.-TWO men had been convicted of some small offense and sentenced to two months imprisonment. When the judge pronounced sentence, one of the men, thinking that 1t was final and irrevocable, proceeded to re- heve his pent-up feelings by vigorous and hearty abuse of the judge. The judge quietly listened, and when he had finished, remarked that he would change his sem tence from two months to one year. Then turning to the other man, he asked him If he had anything to say.
 Not a blessed word,' he replied
 "Beggars," said a gentleman yesterday, "have their regular hours of work, as well as other people. When I speak of hours of work I do so Intentionally, for though few people would think so, it is fairly hard work to be a beggar. They go to work about o'clock and keep at it until or 10 O clock at night.
 "To be a successful beggar, they sit or stand In some cramped position in order to display their particular deformity, and to remain thus for hours in the same place is quite fatiguing. Like other workers they have their hours for rest and recreation. was going through an alley the other day about lunch time, and behind tall fence in a back yard I saw four one-legged beggars sitting on a bench laughing and talking. their crutches lying by their sides They were having quite sociable time None of them were absent, minded beggars for the moment they saw me watching them, they ceased laughing and