AMERICAN JURORS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 2925, 14 April 1891, Page 4

AMERICAN JURORS.

Tlit! strange custom in America of Hppoiiititiy mun lu offices without any regard to their previous carc&r or occupation t'rifjiiuntly \>\>h\h to the most extraordinary incidents, wliicli to to Knglishii'ji.di.-r.s, unacquainted with Transatlantic life, would seem extravagant, oven if they witnessed them on the stiiyi■ of some theatre devoted fo opera bouft'e. Thus, what can he more council than the conduct of the Dakota judge, n veterinary surgeon by trade, who was asked by ft citizen to he excused from serving as a juryman on the plea that he had n sick horse.

" Is it your sorrel mam ':" inquired the judge, his professional instinct getting for the moment the better of his judical dignity.

" Yes. your honour,"' replied the man.

"The court will adjourn for one lumi," i:\cliiimed tin: juilyts. •■ I know something I hat will enre the sorrel mare inside of twenty minutes ;" and thereupon the court linked arms with the. juryman, and, accompanied by the prosecuting attorney, and the prisonar. whom the sheriff did not like to leave, behind, sought the indisposed sorrel.

Xor was it so very long ago that a a ljip: raw-boned man at Julesburg Colorado, declined to go on a jury because, as lie expressed it. "he couldn't bear to serve under no man that he could lick," meaning the judge. Now the latter, when not dispensing justice from the bench, was dispensing drinks at the bar of ;». liijiior saloon which he owned, and in his younger days he had acquired considerable fame as a bruiser. The dormant instincts of the latter awoke and arose to to tin , surface on hearing of the objection of the refractory juryman. Laying aside itsjudical ermine, the court got down from the 'bench into (he budy of (he court, retjimstel tlin spectator's to form a, ring, and, with a clerk as timekeeper and I he prisoner as referee, .fought the lar««! man for fifteen minutes, throughly removing the latter'a hesitation to serving on that J 'articular jury.

As soon as his Honour had acoiuplishc'l this he resumed his scat on the bench, and went on with the trial.