Democratic Sentinel, Volume 4, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 April 1880 — The Colored Juryman. [ARTICLE]

The Colored Juryman.

Gen. Thomas Harrison, who was commander of a Texas regiment during the war, and known by the boys as the “Jim Town Major,” was soon after the war elected Judge of one of the districts of Texas. Shortly after his election he visited one of the counties in his district for the purpose of holding his court. He arrived at the county town on Sunday evening, and sent for the Sheriff and asked him if a jury had been summoned for the court, and if any upon the jury were colored. The Sheriff replied he had summoned a jury, but there were no colored men on the jury, and but few in the county, Judge Harrison told him, under the recent order of the Department Commander, no legal jury could be impaneled unless One or more negroes were on it, and ordered him to have some negroes in attendance, on the following morning, to be placed upon the jury. The Sheriff, after some trouble, succeeded in finding three or four negroes, and upon organizing the court Judge Harrison placed one on each jury. About the first case called was one against a party for murder. After hearing the evidence, arguments of counsel, and charge of the court, the jury started down-stairs to consider their verdict, the colored juror happening to be in the rear. Following them was the attorney for the defendant. At the head of the stairs (and in hearing of the colored juror) the attorney was asked by a friend how he thought the case would be decided. The reply was, “I think the defendant will be acquitted or the jury will be hung. ” The jury went down the steps and out in the yard, and upon looking around the colored member was missing. Upon investigation, they saw him making 2:40 time in the direction-of the brush. The Sheriff was called ; and, after a vigorous pursuit, Mr. Juror was captured and brought before the court and asked why he had run away. His reply was, “He had heard a gentleman say if the man wasn’t cleared the jury would be hung, and as he hadn’t done nothing he didn’t want to take any chances. ” Little Annie is the daughter of one of our most prominent citizens. Yesterday she told us, m her way, what a good medicine Dr. Bull’s Cough Syrup was, as it had cured her of a very severe cold, '