STRANGE SCENE AT AN INQUEST.

Timaru Herald, Volume LII, Issue 5158, 3 June 1891, Page 3

STRANGE SCENE AT AN INQUEST.

o- ~ STRIKE OW JURYMES. An extraordinary aoono wig enacted at an inquest hold by Air Gh P. Wyatfc, coroner, at tho Crown, Blaokfriara, The coroner had summed up and was waiting for tho decision of tho jury, when the foreman jumped up, and, addressing Mr Wyult, said : " Before we return a verdict I should like to call attention to the recent conduct of the London County Council m stopping the miserable ; pittance allowed to jurymon, and tho indig- ; nation felt throughout tho whole of tho I county m consequence, 'i'hey havo taken i away tho shilling which has been allowed i from time immemorial and inercised the i ealary oi'tho already overpaid. 11. is quite time that tho feo was increased instead of reduced, and although tha Uw of tho leuc! can ci/mpel us to como and eervo as jurymen, it cannot compel us to re'urn a verdict, and I , shall certainly refuso to nign th« inquisition until I am paid.— Tho Coroner : Theu I Bhall bo compelled to keep you until you do. — Tho Foreman : A. jurymen's strike would bo something novel. I'll stand out if the others will. I don't mind being locked up. In | other courts if a jury disagree they are dis- j charged and another jury cmpannelled. — The ] Ooronor : Then I shall have to use a little j pressure. I shall adjourn tho case to tho \ Central Criminal Court, and you will have to ( go before ono of the judges, and if he thmka fit to discharge you, without, your returning a verdict, of eourso the matter is then taliori oil i Imy ebouldera. Many yours a»o Mr Carter, | the ooroner, taking into consideration tho hardships caused by taking men from thoir work, represented tho case to the Surrey Justices, who grunted a foo of Is, but aa jurymen on the Middlesex side of tho B water, as well as m Kent, do not receive any ' pay, I think Surrey has boon oxcoptionully c well treated, — The Foreman: If they wcro ' to take away the £30,000 voted last night to J tho royal palaces and pay (.ho jurymen it ' would be muoh bettor of them. By-and-by c tho London County Council will juuip on us ' ratepayers, and wo shan't be able to live at f all. It is the privileged class oppressing tho ° struggling class. Well, I refuso to sign tho r inquisition form for ono, and if tho others avo ° dissatisfied let them refuso also. — The Cor- c oner : I muat havo a verdict of 12. — The V Foreman : I've got, my living to got by my own labour, and while I'm hero ray business ' is standing still. Mr Coroner, after fc consulting my brother jurymen, I find l that thero aro only nine willing to sign. — Tho c Ooronor ; It is impossible to procood with tho c caso without frosh jurymen. I shall libvo to a adjourn the case, as I have other business to ' uttetid to. — The Foreman: Homo jurymen ' must malio a stand ngitinsl; tho nc! ion of the B County Council, and I do not boo why wo a should not coTimonco at onco. — Tho Ooronor : a lum afraid it is like water on a duck's back. " —Mr Wyatt then ordored his officer to fetch ' m four mon out of tho Btrect, Opon their c arrival they were Bworn m, tho enso reopened, * and tho inquiry proceoded. ' I Tho next day ahotlior jury Bummoned by X tho samo ooroner at Bermondsey, " struck," t and there was a long wranglo between tho c ooronor and tho foreman, who rofusud to sign tho papers. At length f.ho coronor said : If !i you ccn't ngreo, i ehall bind you over and ( knop von hrro until you arrivo at v verdict. — ' Tho Foromun : I think your remarks amount s to intimidation. Afler a dolay of about hulf 1 an hour, 12 of l.ho jurymen, with great, re- > luctnnoo, consontod to isigtitho inquieiUon, the c foromnn and thro!) others continuing to hold c out, t , „.._ t