The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1872-06-13
The Woman Movement in Wy
Oming.


Shortly after the bill granting suf-
irage to women went into operation,
women were summoned to serve as
grand and petit jurors in the several
courts of record, and in this particular
field their participation in public af-
fairs has been especially successful
Acting with men in the capacity of
grand jurors, they secured the pre-
sentation of indictments that could
not otherwise have been obtained !;
serving as petit jurors, they paid
strict attention to testimony and ar
gument, profoundly impressed with
the new and important responsibilities
that had been thrust upon them.
The circumstances of the first case
of sex were as follows: A Young
blade, who had imbibed the then prev
alent notion that he coufdanot hope to
attain to the full stature of manhood
without killing somebody, participa-
ted unnecessarily in bar-room braWl,
and accomplished the object zof his
murder, he sought to show the act JUS
tlhable homicide, claiming that the
act was done in self-defence. A jury
SOAd POSO0 Vi C4uo1 pdltS tA1dtC du0 IT,
male, was impannelled to try the case,
and, after three days and three nights
of deliberation, at last agreed upon a
verdict of manslaughter, and the cul-
prit Is now in the penitentiary medi-
Eating upon the swiftness, and certain
ty of female justice. The male Jurors
were in favor of acquittal, but the
ladies, believing that human life ought
not 70 be held by s93e such unsafe and
fiimsy te3 e. vote ing three days
at last dict of M slaughter was
agreed upon. - AMIR -, ..zaa ~
The Court, unlike some of its East
ern compeers,wouldn not permit jurors
to separate until after their final agree
ment and discharge. At nightfall,
after the days deliberation. adjacent
rooms, communicating by door, of
which the Sheriff held the key, were
provided, and the women, attended
by female constables, occupied one
apartment, while the men disposed
themselves in the other. When morn
ing dawned, the two sexes met for de-
liberation, and SO on from day to day
until a final verdict was reached. 1t
is alleged that the women passed a
considerable portion of the night sea-
son in prayerful contemplation of the
grave responsibilities resting upon
them, while the men indulged in q
cheerful game of draw-poker.
Some of the ladies were, matrons,
whose domestic arrangements might
have been temporarily in a chaotic
state, while the spinsters enjoying
their season of maiden meditation
fancy Free" were not annoyed by any
narrowing reflections concerning do
mestic eclipses. IF paterffdneilids was
domestically disturbed an d obliged to
practice culinary arts, he had the con-
ISOLATION of knowing that his other
physical half was administering stern
and impartial justice for the benefit
of society.
+ A lady with infantin arms appeared
in obedience to q summons; and
while the jury was being impannelled
the child addressed the Court with
impassioned though unintelhgible ell
oquence, filling the entire courtroom
with volumes of incoherent sound,
and efectually drowning all other at
tempts to be heard. Whether the
young pilgrim was entering solemn
protest against the new departure, or
singing the praises of political equali-
ty, must always remain mystery /;
but the Court promptly excused both
mother and child from further attend
ance at that term. In all cases where
husband and wife happened to be
summoned upon the same jury, one or
the other was invariably excused on
the ground ofpublic or private policy !;
and in the case of women, the present
or prospective possession of very
young children is regarded as suffic-
lent cause for excuse, wheather plead
ed or not, and the Court is expected
to take judicial notice of this fact. No
divorces, or elopements, or other do
mestic calamities have been known to
result from woman's introduction to
the jury box.
During period of more than two
years women have served as Jurors in