MODIFICATIONS OF THE JURY SYSTEM 211 



out that persons of certain nationalities are famous for seldom changing 

 their minds. One such person on a jury is enough to make the verdict 

 represent not so much deliberate conviction as the yielding of the others 

 to the member of the obstinate nationality. 



It is claimed that the abolition of the unit rule will tend to prevent 

 the fixing of juries. It is rare that anyone attempts to bribe more than 

 one juror, because under the present rule if one juror is bought that is 

 all that is necessary. He will be able to bring about a disagreement. 

 Under a rule that would allow two-thirds or three-fourths of the twelve 

 to render a verdict, the person desiring to fix the jury would have to 

 bribe at least three, a thing which is well nigh impossible. It is not 

 likely that there is very much bribing of juries, but that is no reason 

 why all temptations in that direction should not be reduced to the 

 minimum. 



Everyone with experience in courts of justice knows that jury ver- 

 dicts are very often not the results of the unanimous opinions of the 

 twelve men. The verdicts are very often compromises. This is espe- 

 cially the case in actions for damages. Each juror has a different 

 opinion as to the amount of money that should be paid for the wrong 

 done. They are apt in such cases to strike an average and allow the 

 result to stand as the verdict. It is not the opinion of anybody. Com- 

 promises sometimes occur when several persons accused of crime are 

 tried together. 



There are many things which induce the jurymen to compromise. 

 Many of the jurors are actively engaged in business, and are anxious 

 to have the court matter settled so that they may return to their homes 

 and affairs. They are very apt, therefore, to yield a few points in order 

 to get their liberty again. Still further, the prospect of remaining all 

 night in the jury room is not inviting to any man. Jurymen, like all 

 other human beings, are fond of the comforts of home and good quarters 

 in which to rest for the night. They like to have their meals at regular 

 times and places. When confronted with the alternatives of sitting up 

 all night in the jury room or yielding a little in what one believes is the 

 right, most individuals, unless endowed with a constitution stronger 

 than the majority of the race, and more firmly set in their principles, 



