Democratic Sentinel, Volume 18, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 January 1894 — “One Obstinate Juryman." [ARTICLE]

“One Obstinate Juryman."

The most remarkable case of a jury “standing out” against what seemed to be irrefutable testimony, and all through, the resolution of one man. occurred before Chief Justice Dyer. He presided at a murder trial in which everything went against the prisoner, who on bis port* oould only say that on his going to work in the morning he had found the murdered man dying, and tried to help him, whereby he had become covered with blood; but when tho man presently died,, he had come away and said nothing about it, because he was known to lmve had a. quarrel with the deceased, and fearod be might get into trouble. The hayfork with which the man had been murdered had the prisoner’s uame on it. In other respects his guilt appeared to be established, and tho Chief Justice was convinced of it, but the jury returned a. verdict of “not guilty.’’ This was Chief Justice Dyer's css*, and he put some very searching questions to the High Sheriff. Tho came of the acquittal, said the official, wag undoubt edly the foremun, a farmer of excellent character, esteemed by all his neighborsand very unlikely to bo obstinate or vexatious. “Then," said tho Judge, “I must see this foreman, for an explanation Of the matter I will have.” The foreman came, and after extracting from hi* lordship a promise of secrecy, proved at* onoe that the prisoner had been rightfully acquitted, “for," said he, “it was I! myself who killed the man.” It had been no murder, for the other had attacked him with the bay fork, and* fas he showed) severely injured him, but in the struggle to get possession of thaweapon he had the misfortune to givethe man a fatal wound. He had no lean as to his being found guilty, but, the assizes being just over, his* farm and affairs would have been ruined by a confession, through lying in jail ao long, sohe suffered matters to take their course. He was horrified to find oue of bis own servunts accused of the murder; he supported his wife and children while in jail; managed to be placed on the jury, and elected foreman. He added that if he had failed in this ho would certainly have confessed to his own shaie in th* business, and the Judges believed him. Every year for fifteen years his lordship made inquiries as to the foreman’s existence, and at last, happening to survive him, he considered himself tree to teU. the story.—[London News.