"I cannot help thinking the prisoners at the Old Bailey have every
reason to congratulate themselves they are brought there as
prisoners, and not as jurymen. They are well looked after, and have
a clear way into Court, and plenty of room when they get there.
These are their advantages; but, alas! the lot of the poor jurymen
is not such a happy one. For some reasons, which may (or may not)
exist in the mind of the summoning officer, I received a demand
from him to appear and perform a 'super's' part in trial by jury at
the Old Bailey Petty Sessions. I arrived at the Court punctually at
the hour requested, and after fighting my way through a mixture of
other small ratepayers, detectives, bailed prisoners, and
nondescripts, I came to the first floor. Then I entered a dark
passage, 'standing room only,' and found it quite impossible to get
near the Court, the outside of which resembled the entrance to Old
Drury on Boxing Night. 'There ain't no room; just stand outside
there!' where I managed to keep my temper and my feet for a
considerable time. By degrees I squeezed into the Court with my hat
and temper ruffled. I arrived at barrier No. 1. 'Have I been
called?' 'Name?' 'Yes, yer 'ave, long ago; fined five pounds for
not answering to your name'; explanation. Shoved on to barrier No.
2; explanation repeated. Shoved on to barrier No. 3; explanation
repeated again, and reached barrier No. 4. The Judge: 'Swear'; and
I swore. Final explanation; fine taken off. I have an excuse.
'Stand down!' Here I remain for an hour and a half in a pen,
huddled up with more 'Hexcuses,' as Mr. Husher calls us, some of
whom, by their own statement, came from houses in which there were
infectious diseases. Imagine how nice this would be with the
jury-box full! I must admit the presiding Judge performed his task
of selection with discretion, particularly when he let me off. But
I observe that before the Judge there is a bouquet of flowers. I am
told that this is the survival of an old custom of placing hyssop
before the Bench by way of febrifuge to protect him from
pestilential vapours from the dock. I would like to suggest that a
bunch of hyssop be again substituted for the bouquet of flowers. In
justice, I ask you this: Is it reasonable to fine an over-taxed
ratepayer five