THE JURY LIST.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2210, 7 June 1870, Page 2

THE JURY LIST.

To the Editor of the Evening Star. Sir, — I am a plain sort of customer, rather old-fashioned, aud perhaps rather droll in my ways, but I cauuot help being as I am ; so it is ; and I have a grievance, but there is some satisfaction in my case—company in distress makes sorrow the less, you understand, Mr Editor, and you will help me out, and the other people as well. Give us one of your smart leading articles on the subject ; although it is an old affair, a little of your advice will go a lougway. Well, what is the uso of heating about the hush; out with it you will say, just so, lam coming to it—the bare fact—lam on the jury list. My name, Josiah Shortbeard is down : I am in for the civil sittings, and very uncivil I have found them at times. I am like a little lamb led to the slaughter, my poor head caunot take it in. I do not understand their arguments, I am heavy and dull at reasoning, and I cannot follow the law, the points of the law, aud so forth, and still 1 have to give a verdict. The Coroner says What are jurymen for ? —what is the use of them ? So say I, wiry am I down on the jury list ? I do’ut like it myself, aud my better-half says what is the good of you being a juryman ; you are not competent, you are not clever, you have to support me and all the little ones first, and all your thoughts must be directed towards the goo l of the family. I confess she is right; aud rather a hard matter I find it to jog along, I can tell you. I do’nt understand the law of evidence, and this, in strict confidence, I do’ut know at times whether certain allusions refer to plaintiff or defendant. I must stop ;if 1 make use of any more legral phraseology, I shall get myself in a fog. Let us go back to the grievance. In Canada I read they are experimentalising, how it will work, to do away in many cases with the jury system ; trying to correct and amend the old institution. That is it—that is what I want—ventilation and enquiry, all upon juries, jurymen, and jury lists ; and they may leave ray name out of either the grand jury or the petty jury ; I will forgive them. Some time back I removed to a cheap little out-of-the-way place,- and would you believe it, directly after' the Town Board aud the water rates were paid, and I got the place and the family to look somewhat tidy, when down went my name ; it was wanted for the jury liat. I think it hard upon one. I hope there are lots of other people of the same opinion. It will very much relieve the mind of Yours, most truly, Shortbeard. Dunedin, June 7, 1870.