Page:Race distinctions in American Law (IA racedistinctions00stepiala).pdf/274

 the past four years, a Negro was drawn as a grand juror (by mistake) who appeared and insisted upon the court's impaneling him with other jurors, which was done in accordance with law, the court having no legal right to discharge or excuse him. My recollection is he served two days, when he was taken out at night and severely beaten, and was then discharged on his own petition by the court. This will convey to your mind that Negro jurors are not very wholesomely regarded and tolerated in this county. The fact is, Negroes have never been or never will be allowed to sit on juries in this county."

County No. 2, 5,000 white people, 21,000 Negroes: "I have lived in this county for more than sixty-six years, and we have never had a Negro juror in that time, nor do I ever expect to see one in the jury-box in this county. Our adjoining counties have all had them, a number of years ago."

County No. 3, 5,000 white people, 27,000 Negroes: "Negroes do not serve on juries in our courts. Such a state of affairs would be considered by the people of this county as farcical. The Lord defend us from having jurors of a race of people who are absolutely without regard for an oath."

Arkansas.—County No. 1, 1,800 white people, 12,600 Negroes: "No Negroes serve in this county on regular juries. Sometimes when hard to obtain white jurors, a few Negroes may be taken in cases in J. P. Courts, but not often. Even this habit is smaller than formerly, falling off every year. Colored jurors [are] not looked upon as intelligent, and very few as honest and possessing integrity, and they, as a rule, are also uneducated."