The Detroit times., 1911-05-02


ayne county eoroners have ignored
law governing juries In this de-
rtment. This newspapers inSestiga.
n shows how the "chronic sitters
We been drawn Illegally In ease aIter
pc, supplying another reason Tor YER
ts such as that rendered I'm the case
Emma Gibson, killed by m automo-
eD.
Prompted by the extraordinary YER
et returned by the jury impaneled
Coroner Burgess TO investigate the
'ath OF Miss Emma Gibson, killed
an automobile at Spruce-st. and
|umbull-ave., April II, and in which
/se the chauffeur was exonerated
|bm blame, In spite Of the evidence
the effect that he was driving at
Furious rate, about 40 miles an hour
|'cording TO one witness, The Times
lis dore a little investigating itself.
be Times was OF the opinion that
lie best OF care was not being exer-
Bed by the ccroners' Office in the
|hection of men to act as jurors In
|quests, and the investigation has
|kealed some remarkable conditions.
|lThe records Of the county auditors
|hce, where the people of the coun-
indirectly foot the bills OF the cor
&er's office, show that the person
h OF many jurles which has officiat'
during the years Of 1909, 1910, and
.us far this year, is much the same.
E a matter Of fact, two juries, i'm
bneled by Coroner Burgess In Sep
|mber, 1910, In two entirely diner
bt cases, were composed OF the same
EN- TO q man. The names OF the
rors and the cases they officiated In,
|ill appear in an article to follow the
resent one.
The investigation also shows that
number Of the members OF juries
kye sat on juries more times than
! e law allows. As "repeaters," three
en- stand out prominently. They
fe William V. Morrison, Henry Z.
.rr and David Belyea. In 1909, Nor
son served six times; 1910, six
mes, and In 1911, twice. Orr did
zen better for himself. He was on
eyen juries In 1909; eight in leoS,
hd four times thus far this year..
'elyea runs Orr close second, be-
,g q Juror seven times in 1903; hve
mes in 1910 and three times in 1911.
Henry d. Lieb. one of the members
the Gibson jury, was also much
evidence on the coroners' Jurfe5
1910, drawing pay for services on
We different occasions. He Is also
tarting out very well this year, hav-
hg been on two juries already.
John McMannus, another member
I the Gibson jury, came pretty close
being ineligible for service this
ear. =. ....
The law provides that anybody
Tho performed the services OF juror
4 a Justice or coroner's court more
han three times In one year, 1910,
DR. instance, Is not eligible to officl-
te In the same capacity the following
ear.
Il was violation OF the law to per-
nit Lieb to sit on the Gibson jury.
as he sat on more than
hree juries In the coroner's court In
910.
The section OF the law governing
he regulation of Justices and coron-
rs juries is as follows:
No person shall be qualified TO
sIt 40 a Juror In any Justice or
police court Of Wayne county. or
on an Inquest before any coron-
er, who has already sat a. . Juror
In said justice or police court, or
on an Inquest before said coron-
or, more than three times dur
Ina the calendar year next preced-
ina the time when he 10 summon
ed or offered 40 Juror In said
court or on said inquest And
Il shall be the duty Of said JUS
tIces Of the peace and police Jus
tIces and eoroners 20 enforce and
carry out the provisions Of this
law, and 70 discharge any such