SOME REMARKABLE JURIES. of the. most sacred and ¿herished of our institutions is that of trial by jury, but in connection therewith many curious and amusing incidents can be recorded. Early in the present century an attorney who filled the high office of sheriff, and who was somewhat of a wit, brought together a petit jury of twelve of the fattest men he could find. When they came to the Book to be sworn, it appeared that only nine jurors could sit comfortably in the box. The court was puzzled what to do; but after a good deal of laughing, and not a little squeezing and pro testing on the part of the twelve " good men and true," they managed to wedge themselves in. Literally they were a " packed jury." The learned recorder who presided re quested that there should be no more " fat panels " summoned to his court. The face tious high sheriff bowed acquiescence; but, determined to have his little joke, summoned on the next occasion twelve of the leanest and tallest men that the country could pro duce. The droll effect — there being room in the box for twelve more jurors of the same dimensions — moved the court to mirth, and it was some time before the administration of justice could be proceeded with. At another time the same humorous of ficial impanelled a jury of barbers; but the crowning joke occurred at the summoning of his fourth and last jury. For that term of the court the high sheriff, not having the fear of the recorder before his eyes, actually brought together a squinting jury. When these twelve queer-looking jurors came to be sworn, the court could no longer maintain its gravity; and recorder, mayor, aldermen, and barristers gave themselves up to uncontrol lable laughter. At the Huntingdon Assizes in 1619, Judge Dodderidge reproved the sheriff for not re
turning jurors of sufficient respectability. At the next assizes the following list was read out with peculiar emphasis, import, and pause : Max King of Torland, Henry Prince of Godmanchester, George Duke of Somersham, William Marquis of Stukeley, Edward Earl of Hertford, Richard Lord of Worsley, Richard Baron of Bythorpe, Edmund Knight of St. Neots, Peter Esquire of Easton, George Gentleman of Spaldock, Robert Yeoman of Barham, Stephen Pope of Weston, Humphrey Cardinal of Kimbolton, William Bishop of Bugden, John Abbot of Stukeley, Richard Friar of Ellington, Henry Monk of Stukeley, Edward Priest of Graffham, Richard Deacon of Chatsworth. The jury thus summoned was " illustrious " enough even for his lord ship, who commented upon the ingenious industry of the high sheriff. In Brome's " Travels over England " an account is given of a curious jury return at Rye. The author remarks that by the Christian names then in fashion could be discovered the superstitious vanity of the puritanical precisions of the age. The fol lowing is a list of the jurors : Accepted Trevor of Norsham, Redeemed Compton of Battel, Faint-Not Hewet of Heathfield. Make Peace Heaton of Hare, God Reward Smart of Tiseshurst, Stand-Fast-on-High Stringer of Crowhurst, Earth Adams of Warbleton, Called Lower of the same, KillSin Pimple of Witham, Return Spelman of Watling, Be Faithful Joiner of Britling, Fly Debate Roberts of the same, Fight-the-GoodFight-of-Faith White of Emer, More Fruit Fowler of East Hodley, Hope for Bending of the same, Graceful Harding of Lewes, Weep-Not Billing of the same, Meek Brewer ' of Okeham. Surely a godly jury, and one more likely to err on the side of justice than mercy. — Tit-Bits.
