Annual Dinner, Second Panel Sheriff's Jury, Thursday, January 27th, 1898, Delmonico's

New York: The King Press, 1898. Near fine. First edition; 6 1/2 x 4 1/4; pp. [8]; light-blue cloth over boards, embossed and decorated in gilt and dark-blue; page edges gilt; very minor wear and spotting to cloth; in very good to near fine condition.The Sheriff's Jury of New York, grand name notwithstanding, was primarily an exclusive social club for wealthy Manhattan gentlemen, established in the first half of the 19th century and abolished in the 1970s. The Sheriff appointed three panels of 150 individuals each, who met periodically to assess non-criminal cases, mostly property questions, competency hearings, etc., referred to them by the said Sheriff. They were, in fact, exempted from service on ordinary grand, petit, and special juries. Membership was attained through the recommendation of one of the heads of the three panels. They would become widely-known for their outrageously-elaborate annual dinners. The current booklet, published for the annual dinner of the Second Panel at Delmonico's and personally dedicated to each of the members - in this case, Hon. Peter F. Meyer, contained the lavish menu, the names of the Committee and a list of the members of the panel for 1897 - 1898.