The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-03-21
Some Nev Comments on
 Our Glorious Jury System
Hardhps Which Peers of the Defendants Are Forced
 to Undergo in Order to See Justice Done

human. He Nhas been described as "The wisest, brightest and meanest of | mankind" and he was continually re- garding the interests of his family. He put money in his purse. No doubt many one of his "opinions" became ''precedents." If so. it is possible they were inspired by generous tip. | tom sanctioned by judge and jury may cling to our courts with the tenacity of fragrance to the vase. It may be so.
 When the majority of our people fall l Into the habit (persuaded by high toned moral leaders) to sell their votes (as the only reward of patriotism) l became uneasy, about the witness chair the jury box, the States Attorney sc. Sc.
 It appears that. for a long time. great suspicion attaches to the good man and true" who decides as to liberty or Imprisonment, life or death. | He is Jiscredited on all hands and hedged in to prevent any development of care for his family. It he is so i'm portant in court proceeding he ought to be on an equality of chance. He is insulted by attorneys in full some praise of his dignity of position and responsibility, when he knows he's | hardly a notch on a stick" in the estimation of the people or the other parts of the court.
 Like lamb led to the slaughter he Is made to listen to harangues that are made "to the galleries. The judge can sleep but the jurymen must "sit up and take notice." or he prodded by n bailiff. At last he has to listen to a lucid" charge from His Honor". Lucidity Is the wrong word to apply to the effort to obscure. Take the poor, abused, discredited, | imprisoned men who were chosen. from thousands. because of their proficiency in ignorance and approved mental obtundity-how can you make lucid" the studied. continual confusion of an eight-weeks indecorous wranRle of the tennessee Court? Why the lengthy, learned Charge" but make confusion worse confunded". It a majority of that jury go home raving maniacs, a sensible man will not be surprised Sorry About It.
 am sorry that young Cooper had to Kill Carmack. guess the jury feel that way about 1t.
 l am sorry the old man is so sensi- tive. It appears that. in some of his past dealings with mankind. he was not entirely faultless, but he should have taken it as a compliment that the Editor still Carried him in his heart and mentioned him in the paper. The ttditor was giving him free advertise rfient and keeping him before the peo- ple". Instead of getting "hot in the collar" he should have been thankful that he wasn't telling the whole truth about him. It is said to be the truth that hurts. and to be fighting about a publication or running to law for damages just be- cause of public outcropping of truth Is all wrong and should be discour- aged.
 When a man has deliberality worked up for himself a bad character he should suppress sensitiveness. Of course. in some communities a bad character is the "Open Sesame" to political success. That state of af- fairs comes from the best" or upper | society.
 Sensitiveness to charges of virtue should not breed murjerous senti- ments.
 However, it sometimes happens, that gentlemen of one generation cannot keep pace with the march of popular virtue in the next and the ''back num- Der" condition is painful. If one is sensitive because he can't keep pace with the progress of public virtue. that is another thing.
 Even in my day have known men | NO AOoS cut DcCduSc yOuDBer men have "distanced" them in popular morals. Perhaps Nature. only in exceptional cases, never endowed man with rascalitys above his day and genera | tion. If this be true the old fellows should give way to progress uncom- plainingly and let the prizes go to the proficient young scamps. I don't want it to be understood that l observation | Deacon.
 1 I don't think I ought to close this | moral essay without submitting some remarks on Reasonable Doubt" I have no idea how long the judges have been rolling "reasonabIe doubt" under their tongues as sweet morsel." It seems to be a judicial "chair' that they cherish with a perpetual affec- | ton.
 They seem to treasure 1t as a vexa- tion to jurymen. They make 1t so plaip that 1t can't be understood and seem to take pleasure in befogging repetition.
 | If l were a judge would protect a witness against the insults of attor- | neys. would protect juries against the eloquence intended for the gal leries. and would have as little To say about reasonable doubt" as the law aIlows-so as not to augment the con fusion of mind of the excellent men who are pinned up on account of their | pronounced imbecility.