The Canton times. (Canton, Miss.) 1893-1906, 1900-06-08

Jones has a pull with the politicians, "
he grumbles, as he goes down to the
courthouse, fixing up all kinds of ex-
| cuses to get off. If he happens to be a
resident of Cook county there is about
one chance out of two hundred thou
sand of his ever getting on the jury at
all. If that chance fell to him and not
to Jones that isn't Jones fault. Some
body has to serve on the juries. The
causes must be tried. That is why the
present system was formed In the old
days it was a comparatively easy mat
ter to get three or four men in the Jury
box who would be favorable to a GER
tain cause. Now such thing is prac.
tically impossible. But the average
man who receives a notice that he is
wanted for jury service has little or no
idea of the manner in which his selec-
ton was brought about. 1t all happens
in this way:
Three jury commissioners are ap-
pointed by the judges and clerks OF
record-one FOR three years each year
The first step of the commissioners is
to take the names from the registra.
ton lists and verify them by the city
directory. These names are all writ.
ten on cards and carefully classified in
alphabetical order in cabinets in the
rooms of the commissioners. When
ever man is incapacitated for Jury
service, or whenever he has already
served, record to that effect is made |
on his card, and it is filed away in the |
proper place. Each year when new
lists are prepared the names are COM
pared with those on file. and. if man
has already served. or if for any reason /
has been incapacitated. his name is
omitted.
The law requires that one who has
already served as a juror shall not be
called upon again until all the other
names in the county have been ex-
hausted. There are 100000 names on
file to-day in the Office of the Cook
county jury commissioners. When it
is necessary to impanel iuries a. least
$4,000 of these names are put into a
box about 2ia feet square. This box is
swung on a pivot and is rapidly re-
1olved, thus thoroughly mixing up the
contents. The clerks of the court then
each their hands in through an OPEN
ng and take about 100 names. These
lames are handed to the sheriff, who
serves the summons. The man who
5 summoned is expected to answer to |
he court either IN person or by letter. c
( he pay no attention to the first no. {
ice a second one is sent to him. and if I
lie still is obstinate he receives a third
office. Then if he fails to respond
equity sheriff is sent after him. and he S
) liable for contempt of court.
So. you see. after all, it is not such an
lsy thing to get on the jury. 1t is
luch like lottery-only the ma
1rity of men do not care to be the win n
ers. The men who have nothing to do. f
nd are anxious to serve at the rate of
40 dollars a day. are the very ones p
HON the judges do not want. W
In the selection of jury one may I
e all sorts and conditions of men. g
he world in miniature is lined up be- e
IRE the bar of justice. There you may 4
e the prosperous dry goods merchant 5
anding nex- to the driver of a laun- 4
'y-cart. Next will come a banker and d
len hod carrier, and then a druggist. b
I'd a millwright. and a baker, and a j
ltcher. and a barber, and so on
rough every walk and trade in life.
I'D 1t is Just this class Of citizens that o.