According to Black's Law dictionary, Fifth Edition (1979), the word "Jury"
is defined as "A certain number of men and women selected according to law,
and sworn to inquire of certain matters of fact, and declare the truth upon
evidence to be laid befoe them.  This defintion embraces the various
subdivisions of juries; as grand jury, petit jury, common jury, special
jury, coroner's jury, sheriff's jury" It goes on to state "a jury is a body
of persons temporarily selected from the citizens of a particular district,
and invested with power to present or indict a person for a public offense,
or to try a question of fact."
	By the way, in case you haven't already done so, you should "googl"
"sheriff's jury" as there seems to be some information you may be able to
glean from the web also.  
	Hope this helps.

Debra Sue Zimmerman
Old historians never die; they just past away!


-----Original Message-----
From: A LISTSERV list for discussions pertaining to New York State history.
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Henry Wiencek
Sent: Thursday, October 20, 2005 11:41 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [NYHIST-L] Query: Sheriff's Jury


My wife is completing a book on the well-known lunacy case of John Armstrong
Chanler (aka John Armstrong Chaloner). In 1899 a "Sheriff's Jury" declared
Chanler mentally incompetent, and removed his property from his control, in
a proceeding under the aegis of the New York Supreme Court. The question is:
What is a "Sheriff's Jury"?  Chanler had no attorney representing him at the
hearing.  Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Henry Wiencek
Charlottesville, Virginia