The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1872-07-19
The Woman Movenent in Wyoming.

lTitBe 10 Woueh went INTO operation
women were summoned to serve a.
grand and petit jurors i'm the severa
courts of record, and i'm this particular
| field their participation i'm public affair,
has been especially successful. Acting
with men in the capacity of grand ju,
| rors, they secured the presentation of in.
dictments that could not otherwise have
been obtained serving as petit Jurors
they paid strict attention TO testimony
and argument, profoundly impressed
with the new and important respon-
sibilities that had been thrust upon
| them.
The circumstances Of the first case
tried by jury, impanelled regardless OF
sex, were as follows: 4 young blade,
who had imbibed the then prevalent
notion that he could not hope TO attain
the full stature of manhood without
killing somebody, participated unneees-
sarily in n bar-roOm bTawl, and accom-
plished the object of his ambition.
Having been indicted for murder, he
sought TO show n justiliable homicide,
claiming that the act was done in self
defence. y jury, composed of equal
parts male and female, was impanelled
TO try the case, and after three days and
nights of deliberation, at last agreed
upon a verdict Of manslaughter, and
the culprit is now i'm the penitentiary
meditating upon the swiftness and GER
tainty of female justice. The male iu-
rors were in favor of acquittal, but the
ladies, believing that human life ought
not to be held by any such unsafe and
iiimsy tenure, voted during three DAYS
and nights for conviction, until at last
Il verdict OF manslaughter was agreed
upon.
The Court, unlike some Of its Eastern
compeers- would not permit the jurors
10 separate until after their final agree
ment and discharge. At nightlall, after
the days deliberation, adjacent rooms,
communicating by door. of which the
sheriff held the key, were provided, aud
the women, attended by female consta-
bles, occupied one apartment, while the
men disposed themselves i'm the other.
When morning dawned the two sexes
met FOR deliberation, 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 season in prayerful contemplation
ol the grave responsibilities resting
upon them, while the men INDUCED i'm a
peaceful 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 reflec-
lions concerning domestic eclipses. If
putcUdD6tias was dOmestically dis
turbed and obliged to practice culinary
arts, he had the consolation cf knowing
that his other physical half was admin
lstering stern and impartial Justice for
the benefit of society.
\ lady with infant in arms appeared
IN obedience to n summons; and while
the jury was being impanelled the child
addressed the Court with impassioned
though unintelligible elOquence, filling
the entire courtroom with volumes OF
lncOherent sound and effectually
drowning all other attempts to be heard.
Whether the young pilgrim was enter
ing solemn protest against the new de-
parture, or singing the praises of politi-
cal equality, must always remain a
mystery; but the Court promptly ex-
cused both mother and child from fur
ther attendance at that time. 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 of public or private poll
cyi ana I'm the case of women, the pres
ent or prospective possession of very
young children is regarded as n sufii-
clent cause for excuse, whether pleaded
or not and the Court is expected to take
Judicial notice of fact. No divorces. or
elOpements, or other domestic calami-
ties have been known 10 result from
woman's introduction TO the Jury box.
During period of more than two
years women have served as Jurors i'm
civil and criminal cases at nearly every
term OF the various courts of record; and
their influence, thus practically mani
tested on behalf of law and order. has
been noticeably beneficial. This is es-
pecially true with reference to criminal
trials. In border precincts at the West,
the legal doctrine of eXcusable or iustifi-
able homicide is carried far beyond its
proper limits. For example, a couple
OF bellicose sOvereigns indulge in wOrdv
warfare, and after having exhausted the
vernacular of billingsgate, exchange
shots, resulting perhaps fatally to one,
hut not TO the other. The survivor is
indicted for murder-claims the act was
done in seif-defence, and i'm majority
OF cases would be acquitted by jury
composed exclusively of males; but
Molldh JuTcFSi unless Satlsned that the
deceased was beyond question an ag-
gressor, with murderous intent, are
quite apt to find a totally different ver-
dict. The women of Wyoming, regard
less Of race or previous condition Of SER
vitude, adhere TO good government, see
to the enforcement of wholesome laws,
and while bravely performing the oner-
Gus though unsought duties pertaining
TO their new condition, manifest no un-
wOmanly ambition for place, emolument
or power-Gcn. +. ~ Ice, ia .T,ao Gal
0rOy.
OF all the dreary places, deliver us
from the dreary farm houses which so
many people call home. Bars for a front
gate; pig-pens elbowing the house i'm
the rear; scraggy trees never cared for.
or no trees at all no Towering shrubs ;
no ueatneSS, no trimueSS Aud .-af .,