Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1871-11-10
A WYOMING JOKE.
How the Ways Served Mrs. Judge Norris
Hnsband--A Wife Committffg her Spouse.
Correspondenee Of the New York Sum. :. Il

Hnsband--a Wife Committing her Spouse.
Correspondence OF the New York Sun. f. -,
Ny last gave in brief the history of
the Woman's Suffrage act in Wyoming.
[ will now give some of the practical
workings of woman suffrage and woman
oficeholdipg. The first action taken
under the provisions of this law was the
appointmentlby the Secretary. as Acting
Governor, of Mrs, Esther Morris, Of
South Pass City, as Justice Of the Peace
for Sweetwater county Mrs. Morris
qualified, RENTED the usual fee OF
S. to the Secretary. and entered upon
the duties of her office. Nothing I'M
usual occurred for some days, Every
body was satisfied with the new Justice,
and the new Justice with everybody,
One day, however, the wine of bitter
ness was mixed in her cup Of bliss and
Notwithstanding her wonianly and wife
ly feeling she was compelled to drink
it. 8 Her better half. who was now left
in charge of the domestic department
of the firm, had, previous to his retire
ment to the sweets of domestic life, Oc
casionally taken a social glass with his
friends. Taking advantage of this weak
ness, some friends waited upon Mr.. Nor
ris one day, and having made Mr.. Nor
ris drunk, led him into a breach of the
peace, then fastened to the Esquire's
Office and lodged a complaint with her
honor against her honor's "liege lord
and MASTER" that used to be, and de
manded warrant for his arrest. Mrs.
Justice hesitated a moment on the
banks of this womans Rubicon, but like
Caesar she was equal to the emergency,
and promptly crossed into her lords
dominions, and her former master was
dragged before her for trial.
Mr.. Morris head was not sufficiently
clear to comprehend the situation. He
began to assert his sovereign rights in
contempt of court, until suddenly
brought up by the officer in obedience
to the courts order. Seeing that things
had changed somewhat, and that Othel-
los occupation had been at least sus-
pended, he began to expostulate first
with the officer, until informed by that
functionary that he had no discretion,
but was acting. under orders from the
court. 7 - = q = q *stl
who is the Court Chic) ?'' inquired
Mr.. Morris. On being informed that
the occupant of the bench was the
Judge, Mr.. Morris looked at the Justice
with puzzled air, scratched his head in
an effort to collect his scattered thoughts
and calculated. "Her-her-( hic) ~ on
d fool-she's my wife c)-she is
that's Esther-my wife Esther-you're
drunk, or-oh, don't bother me, (hic)"
and he started to go.
Lock up the prisoner for contempt
Of court, said Mrs. Morris to the officer
" What have you to say about it, eh?"
blurted out Mr.. Morris, staggering men-
! acingly toward the Judge.
"You will find [ have all to say about
it. Officer, lock him up" replied her
Honor.
Although badly mixed, Mr.. Morris
! began to get a glimmer of the truth,
| and began parley
a" Now, look here, Mr.. Officer, don't
you be in hurry. I didn't mean any
thing wrong. [ want to just talk with
my wife minute. Now, Esther, whats
the use of foolin' you jist get down
out O. there, and go home and behave
yourself I'll tend to this little difficult
ty myself. Now, go right along, the
baby wants nursing. | had to give it to
Mrs. Winslow to get it to sleep when l
came down, He's hungry, for he won t
use that old bottle, and / don't blame
him either. The dishes amt washed,
nor the beds made, neither. And what's
more, l amt goin' to do it any more,
now. You hear that. Now start
along" - TT
By the time Mr.. Morris had delivered
himself of this, his tone had changed
as his feelings warmed from that of ex-
postulation to command again, and the
officer forced him into the rudely con-
structed lookup in rear Of her Honor's
court, and Mr.. Morris was left to re-
feet upon the situation, and gaze upon
the dividing wall between himself and
wife as the dividing line between mans
and woman's rights under the new dis
pensation.
On the following morning Mr.. Morris
was arraigned before her Honor, and in
the most sober and subdued manner,
and with the deepest humiliation, plead
ed guilty, asked the pardon of the court
for contempt, begged its clemency, and
awaited his sentence with humility and
resignation. sgs-.r- 2 ---. .-
After giving the prisoner a Caudle
lecture as amended by the laws of Wyo-
ming, her Honor imposed the usual fine
and required the prisoner to give bonds
to keep the peace, upon which the court
calamity offered to let him go, and Mr..
Morris vanished