Rensselaer Journal, Volume 12, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 August 1902 — DECIDE GUILT BY ODD OR EVEN [ARTICLE]

DECIDE GUILT BY ODD OR EVEN

Last Grain in Pint of Corn Determines Verdict of Jury. Barbourville, Ky., dispatch: Grains of corn drawn one at a time from a heap sentenced Riley Lindsey to the penitentiary for a year, but the jury’s verdict was set aside. Lindsey was tried for the robbery of F. P. Owens. The jury was equally divided. Finally it was agreed that a leader from each side draw a grain alternately from a pint of corn, thus to decide by odd or even whether Lindsey should go free or to prison. He was found guilty. Some members of the jury filed affidavits explaining how a verdict was arrived at. Judge Faulkner thereupon set the verdict aside and granted a motion for a new trial.