STARVING A JURY.

Patea Mail, 14 April 1881, Page 2

STARVING A JURY .

Twelve jurymen who were locked up on Monday night at Patea have had enough law for the rest of their lives. They had dined on Monday noon, and from that time forward they had to sift evidence in Court up to seven o’clock, then retire to sift it again on empty stomachs in a small room, and go on sifting it through the long watches of the night, “ without meat, drink, or fire,” till eight o’clock next morning, when the Judge released them. Even that was not the end of their tribulation, for some of them were empanelled in a fresh jury at 10.30 a.m., and kept on the stretch till 2.50, when some again were sworn on yet another jury, without a minute’s interval for food, and went on trying to find a true verdict between our Sovereign Lady the Queen and the prisoner at the bar till six o’clock. Then the sufferings of these hungry jurors came to an end, and they went out and ate up whatever came in their way, dead or alive—so it is said.

This was a jury which would neither eat its boots nor be starved into agreement. Its opinion on the question of wanton and furious driving was divided in the proportion of about 8 to J when first locked up, but as hunger grew more ravenous and tender leather was scarce, opinion changed towards acquittal in proportion of 10 to 2. Then the Judge came to the door of the <£ black hole,” at ten o’clock, and in tones of sweet severity enquired if they were agreed. Alas ! they were not: two boot-eaters still held out against selling their conviction for food, drink (neat), or soft bed. There was no alternative but starvation ; so the key was turned, and the Judge withdrew, leaving instruction that refreshment should bo supplied to the jurors’ order. Constable Ciozicr guarded that door like the fabled Cerberus in another “ force,” permitting only a plate of sandwiches to be passed in, together with two bottles of supposed peppermint (Scotch and Irish blends), but stopping or apprehending a roll of blankets as not being included in the Judge’s order, though permitting a great-coat to slip in unchallenged. Bat whence came these sandwiches and creature comforts ? The furors knew not, but shared them on the principle of first sieze first have. Yet they came not from the Judge, but from the thoughtful son of a father who was on the jury. That father got the greatcoat, but the others got his plate of sandwiches and his essence of peppermint, though it is said ho remembers having a lick at a piece of sandwich broken off, and a pull at an empty medicine bottle. That plate of sandwiches might have spoilt the appetite of one juror, but what could it do among twelve ? The peppermint, being Scotch and Irish, might have been enough to settle the hash of the two boot-eaters, and thereby secured a unanimous verdict as soon as the two wore put on their backs from overdose of peppermint. This plan did not occur to anyone till the liquor was gone—but jurors might make a note of it for next time, as we know' not what a day may bring forth.

No refreshment came from the Judge’s order, it being nobody’s business to attend to it—as usual. Some jurors begged of the constable to fetch them a loaf, or a live sucking pig, or anything eatable, for which they tendered money ; they begged to have overcoats fetched from the hotel : but that officer would not budge from the door for anything less than an earthquake. There were twelve men cooped np in a very small room, with three chairs and a small table. They could not all sit at once, or lie on the floor at once: they could only stand, and were close packed at that. Hat pegs wore few, else they might have hung up. One juror fell asleep on the table, and when ho woke found he had been sitting in the gum and was fast. Another got near the window, and awoke with a stiff neck. A third tried to sit on the “cold ” fire, but found a light had just been applied. The coal-box served him. Four squatted on the floor playing cards, and

j when the}' had been euchred they stood up to make room for another card party. So the jurors had to squat down or stand up in relief parties, there being not enough room for all to lie on Ihe floor at once. At daylight the constable entered and threw water on the fire, which luxury was contrary to the statute in that case made and provided. Jurors implored him to bring a drink of water, but lie only remarked they ought to have agreed on their verdict, and not stand out on a trifle like that. Such was the treatment of these jurors, and such were the sumptuous arrangements of this model jury-room. The Judge hail these discomforts brought under his notice in Court next morning, but the disgraceful details were not slated with sufficient force or ful-

ness. Mr Trewcck asked : Why did w’e not get our refreshment last night ? Judge; Why was that, Mr Deane? Clerk of Court: It is the Sheriffs duty, your Honor ? Judge : But there is no Sheriff hero. It was yoifV business to sec that the jury did get the refreshments I ordered. Mr Palmer: We were refused a drink of water even, and had no place to lie down. I lay in a draught all night, and got cold. Judge : You ought to have been supplied with refreshments, and I made an order to that effect. It appears there has been some mismanagement, which I hope will not occur again.