PROGRAM

Our speaker today was Rick Lutsch.  Rick is a Salem Rotarian, and an accountant at A.S. Fricano.    He was the winner of our drawing for the trip to Atlantic City in 2005.  Rick and his wife enjoyed the trip.  The trip was arranged by Bob White through Preferred Casino Tours.  Bob will have tickets available for our next drawing at the meeting on Monday.

 

A GREAT JURY

In a criminal justice system based on 12 individuals not smart enough
to get out of jury duty, here is a jury to be proud of!

A defendant was on trial for murder. There was strong evidence
indicating guilt, but there was no corpse. In the defense's closing
statement, the lawyer, knowing that his client would probably be
convicted, resorted to a trick.

"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I have a surprise for you all,"
the lawyer said as he looked at his watch. "Within one minute, the person
presumed dead in this case will walk into this courtroom." He looked
toward the courtroom door. The jurors, somewhat stunned, all looked on
eagerly.

A few minutes passed. Nothing happened. Another few minutes
went by. Nothing happened.

Finally the lawyer said, "Actually, I made up the previous statement.
I had no reason to believe the alleged victim would come through that door.
But you all looked on with anticipation. I, therefore, put it to you
that you have a reasonable doubt in this case as to whether anyone was
killed, and based on that, I insist that you return a verdict of not guilty."

The jury, clearly confused, retired to deliberate. A few minutes
later, the jury returned and pronounced a verdict of guilty.

"But how?" demanded the lawyer. "You must have had some doubt; I saw
all of you stare at the door."

The jury foreman replied: "Yes, we all looked ..... but your client didn't."