The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1957-05-31
JURY
Continued from Page one)

they could accurately make such
statement.
BY maintaining a system which
does not bring enough right kind
of jurors to the courthouse, it is
also possible for politicians to play
some dirty and demoralizing poll
tics at the expenses of the public
treasury and the good name of the
county. Dare County has been
severely and sometimes unfairly,
castigated as a county lacking in
sense of decency and respect for
law and order as the outgrowth
of this system.
Consider how easy this system
makes it possible for politically, or
venally minded people to constant
ly bring about the acquittal of
criminals who deserve punishment.
By skulduggery of this sort in
time past, people have been plant
ed on a jury whereby mistrials or
acquittals were deliberately PLAN
ned and executed.
Imagine the great delight and
profit a crooked politician might
| get after such an occurrence, in be-
ing able to say to an acquitted
but guilty criminal, "well, old boy,
/ got you off, now don't forget me
when voting time comes" And GO
ing little further, we can see
how some person entirely unknown
to the court, may be able to col
lect a fine piece of cash for saw
ing the neck of some rapscallion
turned loose again to further dis
grace society.
This is no mere imagination
however; instances could be cited,
and names called. 1t is fact also
that the using of a mere child at
the jury box has not always meant
that names drawn out would be
used. There have been instances
when various members of county
boards have arbitrarily named
jurors themselves. One commits
sioner invariably put on brother,
a brother-in-law or other relatives
alternately at spring or fall terms
| for many years, and no others in
the community got a chance to be
a juror. This mind you, back in
the days when Jurors got only a
mere two dollars a day, instead of
the eight now paid. Imagine the
kind Of juror service to be ex-
pected of men who craved job
for a mere two dollars a day
1t might be better if the draw
ing of jurors were taken out of
the hands of county boards, and
particularly boards which might
not have conscientious and ir-
reproachable clerk, who after all
is the person who can do most
damage in this infamous ccntribu-
ton to the detrinent of our judi
cial system.
Judge Parker's action, it is
hoped will do good for Dare Coun-
ty in that it has directed attention
to another of the grave evils
which work against the well-being
of the people. The time has come
to stop favoring people who are
best qualified for jury duty, on
the ground that they are too busy,
or too influential to be called on a
jury. The time has come to stop
the practice of giving the "job" to
misfits to enable them to pick up
a few dollars in a place their ig-
norance or dishonesty can do more
harm than good. The time has
come to stop the business of cheap
politics. at the expense of the JUS
tice and decency of the courts.
When all people are made to real
ize that, regardless of how i'm
portant they think they are, every
one owes it to his community to
render jury service occasionally,
we may expect some measure of
justice, and greater respect for
the courts, and the curbing of
criminal tendencies which are now
being encouraged instead.