JURY AT BAY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1702, 19 March 1913, Page 8

JURY AT BAY.

HOW PRISONER BENEFITED,

I [By '-Mere Mere."] "No, I've never been a referee in a football match," the squat man in the blue jersey was saying, "and I don't say as how I've any particular hankerings for the job, but I've filled far more important positions—l've been a juryman, and with results." "Dear, dear!" murmured a lank youth of the small coterie, which perhaps from old-time associations was congregated in a spot where tho Queen's Statue formerly cast its shadow. The other two members of the gathering, too tired to get out of earshot of the inevitable narrative that the squat man was an odds-on certainty to tell,' unless some unlooked-for circumstance intervened, sought greater ■ comfort from their leaning posts.

"Yes, it was at the Supreme Court sessions," he went on, "and. ithat amused ■mo- was that a lot of the blokes as was summoned to serve on the jury wanted to git out of it—sick wives, and tho shop or tho baby to mind. And you get .eight bob a day'for it! Why it d do me all tho time instead of work. Tho caso ,1 was called on was ono of doing grievous bodily harm. The accused and a pal had got into an on-the-bridge-at-midnight affray with two other belated astronomers, and one of the latter pair liad boen lut oil the head with a knob-kerry which at the beginning of the molly accused was carrying. Hencc his little lot, o* trubble. Us twelve men on the jury listened to the evidence as solemn as, if wo had passed an examination in the game—wo showed our understanding of it and tho lawyers' addresses by asking no questions. "Unloosed from our little pen we made for the jury room. "E's guilty, right enuf,' said one. 'I think so, too, muttered another. And "me, too,' was echoed almost along the file of us. Well, I didn t think so," pronounced the storyteller. ' "Oh, you wouldn't," emphasised the lank youth. ' "And besides, continued tho ex-]uror, heedless of the gibe, "I don't believe in sending no man up tho liill." "'Ear, 'ear—Dick, thats me, too, agreed one of the languid leaners. ' "Now these other chaps," confided tho palpably encouraged Dick, "wanted to get done with it, but it was only early in the afternoon, and I've alius been for freedom and liberty. So I stuck out. 'Havo a bit. of sense,' tliey said. _ That was just what was hurting mo in tho matter, I replies. Would they like to go to 'nick' in the springtime? "Not 'alf, I'll bet." said a listener. "Well," continued Dick, "I noticed thero was an old gent. with-, white whiskers 011 the jury, who seemed quite tinconcerned by the hubbub of the others. I went to 'ave a chat with him. "'Now you-heard the evidence! sez I. ' '"What's that?' sez he, putting a hand to his ear. ~ ' , T "-'You heard the evidence, repeats 1. "'<No!' sez lie. "'Ow's that?' I arsfcs.

'"I'm deaf!' sez.lie. - "So I tells him. and lie says, decidedly, 'not guilty.' And then there were two of us against ten. J. he old gent, was badgered some now that he declared on my side, but a prolonged argument with him was too tiring, even though they took it in-turns, and . lie seemed a man of a reflective turni of mind -wanted to be left alone to Ins thoughts. I wa« militant enough for them though, and all that was reported to the Judrc when sent for at five o clock was, No agreement yet, your Honour. I took occasion to point out to. his Honour defects in the accommodation for jurymen, and he thanked me and he would memo, the Guv'ment about it". "Good on vcr," chimed in the lank lad, who seemed to be becoming lethargic in the wotih sun rays. "Tea helped to vary things some, but tho tempers of my fellows did not improve, and as the night wore on they were net complimentary to me. I said it looked to me as if we would be locked up for'the night, but anyhow, tho floor was fairly clean for dossin? on. Once more—'No agreement, your Honour.' and courteous questionings as to our difficulties. Ten o'clock, and there was talk among them about not catching the last trams. I was gently whistling:

'Father, dear father, come home with me now, 'Die clock in tho steeple strikes ten. when there was the first signs of weakening among those of the enemy who were not dozing liko my old friend with the whiskers. Perhaps, after nil, one sez. the nccu&rt was not the fellow wito 1 luul. Donnybrrak-like, whirled the weapon. I maintained a scornful silence—had I not said so hours before? Then came the 'benefit-of-the-iloulit' man, 'the wife will bo wondering what's keeping mo,' from another; ami 'tho last ear to the Bay is at eleven,' from two sleepy individuals. A few more tired perhapscs and tho onposition visibly crumpled iip as the halfhour chimed. " 'Temper justice with mercy,' I quotes them. and this subtle touch, I think, does it, and we were soon trooping along to tho court-room. I felt tlia't happiness which must come to tho kind-hearted as l.licy liberate a cajred fciril, when tho foreman returned, 'Not [milly. yonr Honour.' '"Now hurry' away home, boys,' I whispers to them on our discharge, 'and remember that the poet says, "Kind heads are more than coronets." ' They only scowled, and even now in tho streets th?y do not greet nie kindly. It only goes to show in regard to our iury system—" "What nbstinit men you sometimes meets with," concluded a hitherto silent member, and then ensued a discussion that was less one-sided, and in being so became more personal, ami as personalities are not in order, the recorder's task must c.r.aso.