Year: 1875

How the Jury Stood and How they Spent

 the Eight Days they were Out. Egs

 MT. Hull, one of the Tilton-Beecher jury, was found by 8 reporter at his resi- clence in Williamsburgh, where be carries on business as carpenter and builder. On the reporter stating his business he tswas told that he would be given all the pinfornaation that could be given without a breach of honor. MT. Hull said that, owing to resolution unanimously agreed to by the jury, the names of those who voted one way OF the other should be kept strictly secret. He had pledged his word to abide by this decision and meant to keep it. He had no objection, however, to state that the numbers were nine for the defendant and three for the plaintiff.

 Reporter-Do you think there was any necessity for such resolution | What harm could be done by making the names public?

 MT. Hull--I don't know that any harm could come of it, but the general feeling was that it was better to keep the names secret. There has been such an amount of feeling on this case that it was deemed necessary. But necessary or not, our words are pledged, and we must keep silent on that point. --..-

 Reporter-How did the'numbers stand when the jury first went out2 AZ

 MT. Hull-Well, the numbers at first were, I believe, seven to. five. They fuctuated very much from time to time. At one time they were six to six, then seven to five again, then eight to four, hF, , Reporter-Do you think that longer stay or additional evidence might have made change in the numbers9 MT. Hull-No; not if we stayed for six months.

 Reporter-Do you think had any of the jury their minds made up before they retired 2 You know some men have very strong preiudices and don't know it themselves. They might think they were acting impartially and yet have a strong bias for one side or the other.-

 MT. Hull think there were some who had their minds so made up that nothing could change them; but all did their best and acted conscientiously.,

 Reporter-Did the jury hear about the affdavits of Loader and Price, or were they influenced by them to any extent?

 MT. -HulL-Not i'll the slightest; but you will remember these aAidavits were handed in before we retired. We knew the general purport of them, but did not give them a moments consideration.

 Reporter-Did you notice any signal ing from parties outside? --..-, .

 MT. Hull. No; we noticed the crowd staring at us, and it was 8 source of some amusement, but there was no signaling, and it would have been of no use.

 -e Reporter How did the jury spend their time? - @ -

 MT. Hull-After dinner the first day we continued to deliberate and to ballot. As 8 general thing our deliberations were only adj burned during meal times. Al ter supper the debate was resumed, and the arguments for one side or the other were continued till half-past ten o'clock at night, when ballot was taken. Dur ing that night no one slept much, those who could sleep being prevented from enjoying their repose by those who could not sleep. We balIoted about every hour, and when morning came the day light caught us with eyes half shut and worn out from fatigue and want of rest On the second day there were several discussions, with As many ballots. MT. Denham, of Fulton street, sent in some ice cream, which was greatly relished. We rather enjoyed the crowd watching us. After some further discussion the jury seemed disposed to rest till supper time. When supper came we were able to do full justice t. it after our arduous day's labor. After supper the considera- ton of the complicated question of law and evidence which had been submitted to us was renewed, and we continued thus until nine o'clock. We were then allowed to retire to the court room, and this announcement was received with great satisfaction. After going down we had two more discussions and two bal lots. Then, after friendly chat, being wearied out, we disposed ourselves as best we could for sleep-some on tables, could. Such was the general way the engaged in sgames-generally a game called the jury game, which is something like checkers. Stories were told, and the Tales of 8 Jury Room ? in this case would be interesting if published. On Sunday nothing was done. Some read and discussed the Bible, others read and examined the evidence, some lounged about or looked out of the win dows.

 When asked whether he thought a charge from the judge leaning more to one side or the other would have brought about an agreement, MT. Hull said he could not exactly say. It might infu- ence some, but without additional evi- dence he did not see that any verdict could be agreed on.