The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-12-15
A HEROIC WOMAN.

We And in the Baltimore Sun, the following
account of heroic woman in the South. Can
it be that she will be suffered to lie in Jail one
daya We will not believe it.
TRIAL OF FEMALE AT NoRFoLK-W omnn'S
Rights in Court-Mrs. Margaret Douglass
was tried at Norfolk on the oath ult on tho
charge of violating law Of Virginia, by teach
ing colored children to read and write. 1t Up.
pears that Mrs. d. and daughter kept school
In Norfolk, and, whom arrested had eighteen
or twenty colored children under their tuition.
They were both indicted for the offence, but
the daughter, it is said, subsequently fed to
New York. II having been understood that
Mrs. ID. intended to act a. her own counsel mt
the trial, large concourse OF persons assem-
BLEED in the court room, ~ witness the novel
spectacle. The Norfolk Nsirs says:
AS she entered the court room, and took her
seat among the attorneys Mt the bar, a most
profound sensation was created and an un.
bounded curiosity to obtain Il glimpse Of the
intrepid female who could thus boldly en-
croach upon the prerogatives hitherto reserved
10 coats and pantaloOns was visible in every
coun'enance. Tho jury had no sooner been
empanellcd than the lady without waiting for
the examination of witnesses, or the opening
remarks of the attorney for the Common
wealth, proceeded, in n clear and melodious
voice, to the consideration Of tho charges set
forth in the indictment
"The surprise of the whole legal fraternity
was 30 great at this sudden revolution in the
time honored practice of tho courts, that she
had progressed considerably into the merits of
the case before his honor recovered himself
sufficiently to inform her that it would be moro
regular to suspend her remarks until after the
examination Of witnesses WAS concluded. The
lady readily assented to the proposition Of his
honor and the witnesses for the Common.
wealth were called to the stand
"On the part Of the defence, tho lady exam
ined several prominent and respectable wit
ne-sc-, members Of the church for the purpO, o
Of showing that the practice of teaching blacks
had been sanctifkd by the customs Of the
members of the different churches in the city,
IN having Sunday schools FIR that purpore. IL
did not appear, from the evidence If any Of tho
gentlemen called upon by Mrs. Douglas, that
they had actually seen negroes taught from,
books in any Of the Sunday schools Of the city
but tho fact rs stated by them, that nearly all
Of tho negroes attending the Sunday schools
could rad gave rise TO violent suspicion that
many OF The ladies and gentlemen Of our city
moving in the higher circles Of society, had
been guilty Of Us nigrant n violation Of the
law ~ could be imputed to Mrs Douglas and
her daughter
"At the conclusion Of the evidence, the attor,
pey for the Common wealth kindly gave way
for Mrs. Douglass W continue her appeal 70 The
jury, which was done on the part OF that lady
IN manner that would have reflected credit
ON Miss Lucy Stone, Or any other member o
the strong minded ss'eraood She dis
daiued to deny the charge preferred sga.ns
her, or TO shirf tho responsibility in any VA
whatever, but gloried 10 tho Thilanthropic do