New-York tribune., 1903-03-09
MANY JURY ABUSES.
VICTIM WANTS REFORMS.
Some Men Sc'Te Often, Others Arc
Not Called at AL


the present jury system and TO correct a number
of wrongs which exist
The principal objection to be urged against the
method Of selection Of jurors that it is absolutely
unequal 1t is well know fact that the
men are called upon to serve over and over again;
that certain men, well known in the community,
though not exempt by statute. never sum
moned. OF. If they their names never appear
the jury lists. while others who have been resi-
dents of this city for and are legally
liable. overlooked entirely by the Commissioner
Of Jurors. and have yet been called upon TO
answer their qualifications.
know what method is folio we'd by the
Commissioner OF Jurors in making up his lists. or
how many names carried the various panels.
hut certainly there be a large nough num-
her Of citizens than fulfil the necessary
requirements Of the courts: therefore ( any citizen
answers the jury CALL appears in court and is ready
TO serve. he has endeavored to perform public
duty which should he recognized. and he should be
excused for period Of least year, whether
he is actually called the jury II called.
he should be excused for two years. even If the
case should last only for an hour. Although
have made many inquiries from lawyers and
others. do not know what period of service Is re-
quired secure exemption for two years. un-
erStand that twelve days service is necessary out
whether 2 exempt IL he serves for eleven
days. twenty-three hours and ffty-nine minutes L
d. not know and have never been able TO ascer-
tain.
In The last few years I have been summoned
number Of times appear the federal and State
grand jury, the federal and State petit jury
and the special jury. On one occasion I was
summoned to appear in the federal and State
courts on the Same day and hour. but fortunately
succeeded in obtaining excuse for one court and
In July tor thereabouts). 1907 was called on the
special jury for murder trial, appeared III
vas examined and accepted by the prosecution. but.
for some reason unknown to me. was excused by
the defence.
HE WAS OFTEN SUMMONED.
Only cES late ert3 3i0 Nej0
J Was again summoned appear the special
jury on the following Monday. As 1t happened.
nv children in the country, and my wife and
! had received news on the Wednesday morning
;hat one Of them had been taken i'll had secured
railroad transportation, parlor car tickets etc Tor
assuming that if / detained over the following
Monday in question sent from the country i a long
stances outlined. but on my return to the city
Ind I93@ gbo GsS nGe WbT should not he fined $50
for non-attendance," etc Again explained ak the %
courts in this cIty-and also called his attention to
T tor Re e' sn5a R5t @ l9 onfy few weeks before His
decision interesting. and was in erect as Iol-
a mandate of the court The court pays atten-
said Your honor if ore OF my Fl family nj 70 WeFf bfn III
would Il not bs 5oasGn for not dsweris o id 5IE
Is there nothine-no conbn stiun of crcumstance
that would serve as an excuse for non-attend- t;
You are fned sioS'' ] started to Leave the court
csIIej and was acain Summoned before his honor.
In impressive manner he said Il have conclud-
just imposed. Then he added. with considerable
asnerity: See that it doesn't happen again
and II rnysterioaS a man may he summonsd to
ss one Of The twelve jurors to sit in a case he
ad nhnitum, and according the ruling of the
high official quoted above no excuse will be
Seem good and suffioent to himself, fails to ap-
and n or1 i 1e ne Il e to be nn3oned on the
following day and again be fned How often this
aay. and The Tribune would confer. favor on
The % y ThG are Ho,G Gopffd gie TO them be- fre as
y their rights: if lurynen have any rights which
Tear On the MoIineux jury. He answered the can
Jury was in process of selection.
a MAN is NEVER SECURE.
Immediately after this he was called in the Fitz-
patrick case and detained in court until the jury
rox WIS hlled. ! quote this instance 10 illustrate
g point Of importance which is this: When busi-
ness man receives d Notice 20 appear in capital
Gss@ he makes an eft"Tt % so 70 sd9Sc 9c ms S
factory. for period of weeks or months as the
IS a l ce6 D. pdn to to rT@ he taxes esS up his bis
noss with the idea that. having done his duty
ne left in peace and tranqnillity at least for
a iI5T a MN NAV he again sum
moned, and then again. and again and again; he
eanslderahI time simply answering Jury calls
Whick 90 not exempt him from future jury service
viii not e'7"roaoh uT0n Your space 10 @ dweii
are subjectea in the courts the calling OF calen-
dars The long periods Of tellieihe to
the law r1ind-the- Whispered converse tiOrs he
tween officials and the occasional absence
or rardinesS nf various persons in authority
remember an occasion when I journeyed from
my Office @ The court three times day for four
days. only 10 learn that the presiding judge had
not arrived When he finally appeared. on the
afternoon of the fourth day, there was no expana-
lion. no apology. nothing. A brief letter tele
Fast amount Of Inconvenience
afoye that fIryrnen are subjected to injustice
they often treated with contemptuous ndifer-
and nos fanced No is 10 do jury
rioe- but some Of as consider i public duty an9
70 serve and he made feel that not only are
they entitled to receive. hut are r1celving tne
greatest possible consideration at the hands Of the
From nv own experience 1 would suggest that
Of n7cn be induced to serve by adoption of some
Ffrs1NWhen a citizen appears in court in response
to summons and answers TO the rolcall ne
should if not selected on the jury. be exempt
from further dury on any jury for % period Of
one year He should receive certihcate or printed
from tine clerk of the court stating the period
Of his exemption If calie1 any case as jury
d mn ,I9 r. receive certfcate or printed notice
from the clerk Of the court stating the period of
SecondPrEnfice to jurymen should state dn addi-
lion 70 the penaltieS for nonSeTVlceD the perlod or
Spr In c the precedine suggestions adopt
NO u conditions should he plainly stated on
third Notice 70 1urymen the special Jury
should be served NOT less man TWO %Sek9 IN ah b
vance instead of on the rn"rieii'' a. "ff'' " '
Observation-Disclosures whose names the special
panel should be exempt from al jury ol'S III o'hei
FiFth-sou,e agreement should be arrived at be
tween tha federal and State authorities by which
names should be selected from different panels SO
that the person should not he drawn TO appear
different courts on the same Gay ana nouI-