The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-12-03
v. h. MORGAN
CR|T|C|SES THE
JURY SYSTEM

The Rhode Island Bar association held
its 10th annual dinner at the Eloise last
evening The dinner was preceded by a
business session at which the officers for
the ensuing year were elected. as follows
President, William A. Morgan: vice
presidents, Dexter i. Potter and Oscar
Lapham treasurer, James A. Pirce; sec
retary. Howard B. Gorham; executive
committee, Frank w. Tillnghast John
w. Hogan, Harry p. Cross. Arthur NJ.
Allen and George ii. Huddy, Jr.
After the members had taken their seats
at the table President Morgan thanked
them for re-electing him and declared
that he would not be "A candidate next
year, in order to give some one else
chance TO hold the office.
During the evening music WAS furnish
ed by an orchestra. Two visitors were
expected to be present, Asa T.. French
and Sherman l.. Whipple, both of the
Massachusetts bar. Both were unable 10
be present.
|. President Morgan delivered the princi-
fpal address OF the evening. In II he crit
lie said in part: THE jury never was,
and never will be, I'm my opinion,
the bulwark OF anything or any
body. except the ambulance chaser.
the adventures who makes business %
breach OF promise suits. the husband
shame and others of the same stripe. 50
VIII IL constantly award substantial dam
ages I'm suits for negligence where the
defendants happen to be corporations and
the plaintiffs are injured while I'm their
employ, regardless OF the legal or moral
responsibility of the defendants for the
injuries. When public sentiment for any
reason is against us, our juries are con-
troled by that sentiment. and IL is then
we find that our great constitutional
guarantees. which have such an assuring
aspect when we read them in orr federal
and state constitutions are little more
than mere words.
what is there about the Jury which
makes it, more than the judge. special
ly fit for deciding questions of fact? Moth
ing whatever. 1t is made up of men from
all walks of life except those in the moro
responsible positions; such men usually
evade jury duty, or, If willing to serve
are rarely permitted to do so. Some OF
the Jurors show that they have rarely
had any use for a thinking apparatus.
Few OF them are capable of proper es-
timation of witnesses and of their testi-
mony, and few Of them are capable of di-
vesting themselves OF their sympathies
f, and prejudiceA
| Common experience proves that while
we may try q cause TO a body of IL in
! dividuals, the cause 10 really decided hy
the one. two or three OF the firmer. OF
more plausible talking. members OF that
body Then again. think OF the danger
Of improper influences being brought 70
bear upon certain individuals of the class
OF men who 60 to make up tho Jury. I'm
fluences In the court house, possibly, b
court officers employed to safeguard thu
jury. or it may be by friends of the par
ties. or their counsel. outside OF the courl
house.
"Is II not time for US to seriously con
slider the abolition OF the jury as crude
expensive. illogical and unsatisfactory
factor In our courts of law; as not fittef
to the mixture OF races OF which we are
now composed as a people?"
Amasa NJ. Eaton delivered an address
upon Thomas w. Dorr and the Dors
War" His paper was an exhaustive bis
torics account OF the troublous times
leading up 10 and including what Is COM
monty known as the Dorr Rebellion.