Spelling Stuck the Jury

1914

Point of Information They Wanted Involved No Great Legal Knowledge, If Judge Had It

Here is one that was told at a tea given by Miss Geraldine Farrar, the singer, when one of the party referred to the judiciary and the peculiar cases that frequently come before the courts:

"Some time ago there was a homicide case in a western court in which there was considerable doubt as to the guilt of the accused. The trial judge seemed to share the popular belief.

" 'Gentlemen of the jury,' said he, in concluding his charge, 'if the evidence, in your minds, shows that pneumonia was the cause of the man's death, you cannot convict the prisoner.'

"Whereat the jury retired and in about ten minutes the constable returned and presented himself before the judge.

" 'Your honor.' he remarked, "the gentleman of the jury want some in- formation.'

" 'On what point of evidence?' asked the judge.

" 'None, judge,' was the rejoinder of the constable. 'They want to know how to spell "pneumonia,"' " — Philadelphia Telegraph.