Trial of the Officers and Crew of the Privateer Savannah, on the Charge of Piracy, in the United States Circuit Court for the Southern District of New YorkWarburton, A. F. (Adolphus Frederick)
History
Trial of the Officers and Crew of the Privateer Savannah, on the Charge of Piracy, in the United States Circuit Court for the Southern District of New York
Warburton, A. F. (Adolphus Frederick)
Piracy -- United States; Privateering -- United States; United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
_Mr. Brady_: That practice I understand not to prevail any longer,
since it has been provided that the empanneling of jurors in the United
States Courts shall be the same as in the State Courts, and we do not
consent to any such principle as the gentleman proposes. Your honor has
decided that a juror, to disqualify him from serving in a capital case,
must say that his conscientious scruples are of such a character that,
though the evidence be clear and conclusive under the law, as stated by
the Court, they would prevent his doing his duty and giving a verdict
of guilty. To my mind, nothing can be more clear and satisfactory than
the statement of the juror himself, which exhibits a state of mind that
should be possessed by every juror; that is, that he must be satisfied
beyond all reasonable doubt of the guilt of the accused before
rendering a verdict of guilty; and when be speaks of his sympathy on
behalf of human life, it is only that sympathy which the law recognizes
where it gives the prisoner the benefit of every doubt. It is true he
does use the expression that there must not be the shadow of a doubt;
but when the Court comes to expound the law, he will be instructed that
it must be a reasonable doubt. I do not see anything against the juror
on the ground of conscientious scruples. Your honor knows that the
prosecution have no peremptory challenge in cases of piracy or treason,
and the old practice of setting aside jurors until the panel is
exhausted, and then, if not able to make up twelve without the rejected
jurors, requiring their acceptance, has passed. That is decided in the
case of Shackleford, in 18 Howard's Reports.
_The Court_ (to the Juror): We do not exactly comprehend the views you
entertain upon this question; therefore we desire, for our own
satisfaction, to put some questions to you, to ascertain, if we can,
the state of your mind and opinions upon these questions, and see
whether you are a competent juryman or not in a capital case. It is a
very high duty, and a common duty, devolving upon every respectable
citizen. The question is this--and we desire that there may be no
delusion or misapprehension on your mind in respect to it--in a capital
case, if the proof on behalf of the Government should be such as to
satisfy your mind that the prisoner was guilty of the capital offence,
whether or not you have any conscientious scruples as respects capital
punishment, that would prevent your rendering a verdict of guilty?
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