The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-06-22
ASK CHANGES IN
THE JURY SYSTEM
Recommendation Made
by the Lawyers.
n ALA - "a NJ
A WARM DISCUSSION
Eight Challenges the Limit Recon-
mended---Hon. Burton Smith of
AtIanta's Address Before the
Association One Fea-
ture of the Day.
Especial to News and Observer

NopeClsll 10 news ana observer
Charlotte, N. c.. June 21.-Char-
lotte today has been given over and
that right gladly to the members of
the State Bar Association. this being
of men that has ever assembled with
in the gates of the Queen City of the
Old North Ctate.
The association was called to order
this morning at IL o'clock by the
chairman, w. d. Pruden, of Edenton,
the secretary and treasurer of the
association, j. Crawford BiggS, of
Durham, then read the annual re-
ports, which were adopted. The next
report submitted was that of the aud
iting comittee, T. T. HiX, of oxford,
being chairman of this committee.
The report was adopted.
u. V. Walser, chairman of the eX-
ecutive committee, next submitted his
annual report, briefly and concisely
wcrded. This was likewise adopted
by the association. The routine busi-
ness of the meeting having been COM
pleted, the chairman arose and in we'll
chosen words introduced the speaker
of the occasion, the Hon. Burton
Smith, Esq, of Atlanta. The speaker
and we'll known Georgian was re-
ceived with a storm of applause.
The States Jury System.
The chief matter of discussion to-
day and one involving radical changes
in the jury system of the State, grew
out of the report of the committee
on legislation and law reforms, re-
commending that all exemptions from
Jury duty as outlined in the Code be
fully repealed and further that strict
limitations be placed upon number of
peremptory challenges in capital
cases, eight challenges being the limit
recommended in this report
The members at once recognized
the sweeping nature of the report and
consequently a spirited discussion was
the Immediate result. Many of the
members were in favor of a conser-
vative attitude and others saw in the
resolutions only an effort to improve
the jury system. Col. Fl. c. Jones, Of
the Charlotte bar, favored sticking
to the rules of our ancestors who, he
thought knew as much about the re-
quirements of the case as we do to-
day.
The meeting then decided to take up
the report in sections and a vote was
taken on the first section, recommend
ing repeal of jury exemptions, includ-
Ing I1EeHle1, DliySlCIdlls lItliIitt, SSIioOl
committees, officers of insane asylumS,
State officers and all exemptions of the
code
Mr.. Clement Manly of Winston,
chairman of the committee, said that
the juror was the most dignified per-
son that God Almighty ever created.
He spoke forcibly of the ease with
which good men made excuses, while
the incapable were put on our juries.
"a lawyer can rise as high as the
jury or sink as low as the jury. He
is a different man in the first case
from what he is in the second case,
said Mr.. Manly. Mr.. Manly was in
favor of ministers serving as jurors,
taking an opposite view of that for
chilly argued by Col. II. c. Jones.
A vote was finally taken first upon
the question of exempting physicians
1t was lost and then a vote followed
upon the question of eXempting min
listers. This was carried by the as
socation. AS finally adopted the
recommendation is that there be nc
exemptions whatever except i'll the
caJTse of ministers. AS to the second
of the report regarding changes in
the number of peremptory challenges
allowed, after nearly an honrS dis
| cussion the recommendation wa:
| tabled, thus allowing the peremptorJ
! challenges to remain as at present
| four for the State and tWenty-three
| for the defendant.
The association adjourned tonight.