Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 September 1893 — They "Considered That P’int.” [ARTICLE]

They "Considered That P’int.”

In Illinois there is an old law on the statute books to the effect that In criminal Cases' the jury is the “judge of the law as well as the facts." Though not often quoted, once in a while a lawyer with a desperate case makes use of it. In this case, says the Green Bag, the judge instructed the jury that it wa3 to Judge of .the law as well as the facts, but added that It was not to Judge of the law unless it was fully satisfied that it knew more law than the judge. An outrageous verdict was brought In, contrary to all instructions of the coart, who felt called upon to rebuke the Jury. At last one old farmer arose—“Jedge,” said be, “weren’t we to jedge the law as well as the facts?” “Certainly,’’ was the response; “but I told you not to judge the law unless you were clearly satisfied that you knew the law better than I did.” “Well, jedge,” answered the farmer, as he shifted his quid, “we considered that p’int.”