The Origin of Trial by Jury.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 11 October 1911, Page 4

The Origin of Trial by Jury.

Whence comes the system of trial bj jury, with which so much dissatisfaction, is often expressed. The' '"authorities differ. One speaks of its origin losing itself in the. night of time; another says it is "a trial that hath been used time : out of. mind j" a third affirms that it was introduced into England by the a fourth says that' the Scandinavians established the system .more than.a,thousand years ago. w At any α-ate, there is evidence that, in the. reign of the Conqueror, a dispute arose about some land which the sheriff claimed on behalf of the King. All the men of the countv

were assembled and sworn to say the truth. ' Eventually they found for the sheriff. The jud'4e. dissatisfied with th© verdict, directed the neu of < the county to choose out of their number twelve who should, upon oath, confirm the verdict if tfiev thought,fit. This tihey did, but authorities now agree that the twelve■were not jurymen. The legal existence of jurors was first recorded under the- Plantagenets. ; Formerly, a jury who could not agree were sent to prison, and during Queen Elizabeth's reign a banquet was usually given to tho iury by the-successful litigant.