The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1876-06-30
CHAPTER xxx.


within the box.
'Madsm, your name ?" said His
Honor, kindly.
''Madge Morrison, sir"
care you not married ?"
According to mans laws, yes. Ac-
cording to Gods law, no."
at is mans law that is ruling here,
madam. Be careful how you talk"
'I should say it was mans law !"
said Madge, hotly. "Nobody could
doubt it after what we've just seen and
heard"
'The Court will fine this witness five
dollars for contempt"
"Here's the moneyW said the pro-
tected woman, promptly. allow much
more will you charge me if L telLyou
the rest of the truth ?"
MADAM, this will not do! You are
summoned here before the judiciary of
the sovereign people of the common
wealth to tell what you know relative
to the murder of George Hanson, and
not to infiict your private opinions upon
court or jury"
"But they're public opinions, SIR"
mo more of that, at your peril,
madam. What is your husbands
name? ?"
81 have no husband"
"Ah, forgot. Your husband was
George Hanson, the murdered man."
ff(laornra sa ~ I,
is not my husband. disowu him."
ITO disown your husband at will,
madam, is not in your power to do. By
the laws of this great, free country,
you are married, and by the laws, only,
can you be divorced"
"Tf I only had control of money
enough to pay the fines, and thereby
appease the dignity of an offended
Court, I'd like to say something else
that's true and important, your Honor"
"What would you be pleased to say ?"
and the judge, forgetting, for the nonce,
the obsequious attention due from the
protected sex to the ermine of the
courts, leaned forward In his chair, and
gazed into her eyes with an amused ex-
preston of interest.
'T want, your Honor-you won't fine
me again ?"
1.-THE rules are for a moment sus-
pended, madam. Go on"
~ want to say, with all due defer
ence to your opinion, sir, that this isn't
a free country, at least not for women.
Men make the laws and enforce them.
They do this without so much as saying
by your leave to one entire half of the
whole people. They can make marriage
contracts with young girls, who think
they are entering the holy relation in
good faith, and then they can violate
their most sacred promises after the farce
oflegal ceremony is over, because, under
mans law, the husband and wife are
one, and the husband that one"
'Ts that all, madam ?" and the digni
tary was almost convulsed with sup
pressed laughter, even while the vic
tim of circumstantial evidence, on tria
for his life under the laws of a country
that considers the taking of life by al
individual a crime, and the same ae
committed by a government is botf
virtue and necessity, sat uneasily il
the felon's seat, and clanked his chains
in nervous agitation.
mo, your Honor; that is not all
May 1 proceed ?" asked Madge.
GAS briefly as possible, madam" ant
the dignitary nodded his head.
Madge continued: "I am not the wifi
Of George Hanson, though I was mar
ried to him according to your laws
and, according to those same laws, hav
not been divorced; yet, be is not dead.
''Tirat will do, madam. 1t is clearl,
apparent to the Court that you are no
in your right mind. Evidently you ar
in no condition to be responsible 70
your vagaries, anyway. The witness i
not competent to testify. Remove he
from the courtroom"
The ex-parson, and present sheriff {
the new county, obeyed the order wit
alacrity. Selling the protected woma
roughly by the arm, he sought to dra
her from the box.
Madge seemed possessed by q sudde
superhuman strength.
Repelling the authorized intrude
with blow that sent him away stag
gering, with his nose bleeding, and hi
shut eyes seeing stars, she arose fror
the witness box, shook her head i
mute defiance, gathered up the shaw
that had fallen from her shoulder
glanced anxiOusly at the prisoner, all
walked to the rear end of the room.
"Pll get satisfaction, you miserabl
vixen p' said the doubIe-bass from ou
side the door, forgetting, in his excit,
ment, to attune his voice TO that exa,
pitch Of deep-strained, assinine melod
that had long been habitual.
"Pll sue you for assault" he col
tinued. 'It's grave ofense to resi-
the dignity and majesty of the law"
''pd like to see you sue !'' said Madg
shaking her knuckles at him after