Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 21, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 January 1910 — QUICK COURT WORK. [ARTICLE]

QUICK COURT WORK.

Eleven Verdict* a Dajr Rendered fejr an Enflieh Jury.

Jesse Macey, writing about the great advantages of the procedure of Elhglish courts over American, dwells upon the splendid work of English juries: “The working of the British jury system exhibits a marked contrast with that of our own. It is possible that my experience in British courts was exceptional, but not in a single instance did 1 see a juror challenged or rejected. In ail of the courts requiring juries the necessary number of men were present and they were sworn in without question. In the sheriff's deputy court, Scotland, the presiding judge gave notice to the jury that he expected to adjourn the court at 3 o’clock, and stated that if they could all remain until that hour he would at once dismiss the men who had been called for a second panel. The jurors conferred together, and agreed to remain till 1 o'clock, whereupon the judge notified the other men to appear at 12:30. The one jury impaneled for the morning session rendered six verdicts in cases Involving prosecutions for thefts, frauds and burglary. In a court of quarter sessions <at Taunton. England, I saw a single jury in oneday render eleven verdicts. I found that it was customary in the several sorts of court that I attended for the same jury to act in successive cases. In no instance did I see a jury leave their seats to make up their verdict Usually the issue before them was made so plain that all who gave attention knew in advance what the decision would be. I, made note of an exceptional Instance of delay, when the court was forced to wait nine minutes for the report of the jury. In this case the judge who gave the instructions was himself in doubt as to what the verdict ought to be. “A Scottish Jury consists of fifteen persons, and a majority may render a verdict. In England the number is twelve, and unanimity is required. But I noted no difference as to practical results in the two countries. The twelve men In the English Jury were as prompt and certain in their action as were the eight out of fifteen In the Scottish Jury.”—McClure’S. Troubles may come to a boy in the form of curly hair, and to a girl in tbs guise of freckles. „. f .