The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1916-12-23
SUPREME COURT REvERSES
LOCAL TRIBUNALS FINDING
Error in Examination Of Jurors, and
Error in Examination o. Jurors, and
in Giving Certain instructions at
Conclusion Of Testimony, Cause for
Remandins-Transcript Of Part Of
Questions eiven-Leverett, in Jail,
is Told Of Decision BY, The News.

Tom Leverett; Louisiana sawmill
man, thrice trisd for the murder Of
Ed Bradley, erstwhile friend, compan-
ion and fellow employe in Rlchton in
August 1915 and who was convicted
Iby a Forrest county jury last spring,
I,will be given another chance for his
life and liberty.
The Mississippi Supreme Court, in
Jackson today, reversed and remanded
vhe verdict OF the Forrest court. The
news of this course was carried to
Leverett, who has been in jail here
almost continuously since October,
1s15, ty a representative Of The News.
| Il will be acquitted the next time, :"
Twas his only comment
The finding Of the Forrest court
4 was reversed because Of errors in the
local court, in the examination Of jur-
ors, and in the wording Of certain Of
the instructions given to the jury at
the conclusion of the testimony.
| Leverett was indicted by the Perry
county grand jury. He was first tried
in Perry county, and hung jury re
j. settled. A change Of venue then was
made. The first time the case was
tried in Forrest, a hung jury resulted
/ At the second trial, Leverett was con
victed and sentenced to the peniten
tiary for life.
Judge j. Potter, in Division iB handed
down the decision.
Z Here's The Opinion.
1t is as follows:
This case must be reversed Th
errors committed in the court belo1
begin with the courts examination 9
the Jurors on voir dire. We quot
! partially from the examination of on
of the jurors by the court on his vol
dire examination, which question
counsel agree are the same as thos
propounded to all the jurors by til
court in qualifying the jury:
by rne. Court--
@, DO you believe in law enforc
ment?
Juror
A. Yes.
n O. Are you in sympathy with la
n breaking of any kind-do you belle
of in enforcing all the criminal laws
the state?
~ A. Yes.
y @. You realize that this is what pi
teets you?
IA A. Yes.
j Q. Are you in favor of helping
lf enforce all Iaws as citizen?
er A. Yes.
be O, Do you feel like it is your du
te as citizen to enforce the laws?
Il A. Yes.
@. Do you understand when y
are taken on the jury it is your di
Tori to convict people because you are
ip. sympathy with law enforcementg
81. A. No.
Concrete Example.
O. Now, in this case Mr.. Lever
is charged with numbering Ed Br
ley over here at Richton, Miss
A,r you are taken as a juror to try L
] erett, will YOU go into the jury
on and sit there and listen carefully
at the testimony that the witnesses 3
sht, you from the stand and consider
rbe carefully and then take the writ
Instructions that the court gives Y
that is, the law in the case?
court will give you certain written
distractions that will be applicable
81, the case, and all the law there !.
o1r the case. There viii not be any
'Ay applicable to the case except the v
cal ten instructions that ! give YOU.
rom YOU accept that as the law OF
the case?
MA A. Yes
@. Now, II you are taken as a J
ness to tlv this case, viii you try it on.
cen7 timent Are you one Of those Eel
[ its that pay attention to every insinui
: az or suspicion, Or have they got to {
YOU the facts before you will act
A The facts.
'front.' Q. Suppose that after you
! the heard all the evidence in the cast
Continued on Page 7wo.)