When at the beginning of the trial they, one by
one, take the witness-chair (on what is called the voir dire)
to subject themselves to an examination by both sides as to
their fitness to serve as jurors in the case, the district
attorney probably has close fit hand a rather detailed account
of each, and perchance has great difficulty in restraining a
smile. When some prospective juror, in his eagerness either
to serve or to escape, deliberately equivocates in answer to
an important question as to his personal history.
"Are you acquainted with the accused or his family?" mildly
inquires the assistant prosecutor. "No--not at all," the
talesman may blandly reply.
The answer, perhaps, is literally true, and yet the prosecutor
may be pardoned for murmuring
"Liar!" to himself as he sees that his memorandum concerning
the juror's qualifications states that he belongs to the same
"lodge" with the prisoner's uncle by marriage and carries an
open account on his books with the defendant's father.
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