American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-06-03
TELEGRAPH
FEMALE LAWYERS.

A WOMAN LAWYER, OR A LAWYER WOMAN
On the 18th of April large throng of people
were attracted to the fourth chamber OF "La
Cour de Ia Seine," Paris, by the announcement
that woman would plead her own cause be-
fore the tribunal of justice.
Madame Grange advanced TO the bar with
calm simplicity of manner. She quietly took
off her gloves and bonnet, and placed her para
sol against column, shook back her magnf-
cent blonde curls, which hung around her face,
and began her speech. Without the slightest
embarrassment OF appearance of WEAKNESS, she
spoke Thy the watch) for three hours.
1t was case of an appeal from judgment,
and defended by Delangle. The frequenters OF
the Palats were amazed, and sorely chagrined
to hear a woman plead a cause 80 ably, with
such facility, such knowledge of the technical
tiles of the law--and, above all, with such con
vincing eloquence.
At the end of three hours, Madame Grange
said she would sum up the whole. The con-
nossseurs now exclaimed: 'She will recon-
mence her pleading" They were widely mis-
taken. Although they said the resume was ra-
ther discursiye, it was lucid and admirable. At
its termination, Madame Grange said, with de-
licate good taste and simplicity, 'Gentlemen,
| think have said all that is necessary to en-
tighten you upon my right. Pardon me, if
have wearied you. As a daughter, feel my
self impeed to defend the rights of an aged
mother; as mother, am compelled to defend
the rights of my children"
Monsieur Delangle replied to Madame Grange,
whom he could not avoid addressing occasion
ally, as "the honorable gentleman" He would
then quickly apologize, and the whole scene
passed away with good humor. There can be
no doubt but that women would be great law
yers.
The New Orleans Delta alludes to case re-
markably similar, in many respects:
"We never saw but one lady arguing case
| in our courts. 1t was Mrs. Gaines, who, in
1912, appeared in the First District Court,
Judge Buchanan,) accompanied by her gallant
| husband, in undress uniform, with sword buc-
kled to his side 1t happened that Mrs. g. s
| lawyers, becoming dissatisfied with some deci-
sion of the court, retired from the case, where
upon the dignihed veteran advanced towards
the lawyers table, leading his lady by the hand
and begged that the court would allow the lady
to plead her own cause The scene was quite
an interesting one There stood on one side al
array of our Oldest and most learned counsellors
who were resisting the ladys pretensions with
all their skill and ability, with large battery
of lawbooks lying before them. On the other
side stood the bright eyed, handsome little lady,
| and the war-worn veteran, her gallant husband.
The claim of the lady to be heard in her own case
could not be denied She proceeded in her re
marks but soon became so piquant and persona
that the Judge interiered and begged her Il
confine herself to the argument Thereupoi
the gallant General arose, and, in a slow an,
measured style, stated that for every thing tha
the lady should say he held himself PERSONAL,
responsible, in every manner and form, in cour
and out Of court. This aluson pretty soor
quieted the smuggling Of some young attorneys
who were present, and who appeared nightly
| tickled with the scene. Mrs. Gaines was per.
mitted to go on and argue her case to a conclu
sion.