A JUST JUDGE IN VIRGINIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 January 1934, Page 19 (Supplement)

A JUST JUDGE IN VIRGINIA.

For the past'3o years no Negro has sat on a jury in Virginia. Yet-Negroes are citizens. -i,'- ' In cases where they are accused of crimes against whites .it is manifestly unfair that there should be no -Negroes on the 'juries before whom their cases are heard. To remedy this . a few judges m Virginia who drew up the-grand jury lists this year decided to include Negroes, beginning in October. When one such jury was caled a white farmer refused to serve on it because he resented the presence of dark-skinned jurymen. ' ’ . ' Once upon a time the entire, white population would have supported this farmer' in his attitude, but, as a proof that things.do change, Judge Frederick Coleman has convicted - this farmer of contempt of court and ordered him to pay a fine 6/ ten dollars, or serve on the mixed juxV as he was expected to do. The fine has been paid;