The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1879-04-10
Mrs. LOckwood's Victory.

Ms LOokwOod's Victory.
supported on either side by judge
Shellabarger aud Hon. Jeremiah VIII
SON aud tianked by her admirers ont
SIDE OF the legal profession, sat Mrs.
Belva 4. lockwood within the sacred
precincts Of the bar Of the supreme
Court Of the United States from high
noon Monday until after ( o'clock, wait
ing, not for verdict, but for an oppor-
tunity to present herself, under the new
law, for admission to the bar. She was
dressed neatly in plain black velvet
dress, with satin vest and blue cloth
coat, cut q FhOMHle, and with gold but
tons. \ neat tulle ruflie round neck
and cuffs, black kid gloves, bOtttOnIliere
on the right lapel Of the coat, the WE'LL
known gold thimble, with the addition
Of miniature pair Of scissors in gold,
slzf fe1des - tle throat completed the
costume, except the head, which was
uncovered, the hair being rolled back
from the face, and fastened in knot by
q comb at the back. The courtroom
was unusually full Of casual visitors, be-
side those who had come to see BelVa
through. Mrs. Briggs ("Olivia'') Occu-
pied a seat behind Mrs. Lockwood, and
of course outside the rail. DR.. Mary
brOsdcloth, made strictly on male prin-
eiples, staud-up collar and bright blue
necktie, sat in the same vicinage, max
ing copiOus notes in a demOUstrative
manner in a large-siZed pOrt-fOliO. Sis
ter Wilcox and Mrs. DUndOre were also
there. Shortly before the reading of
opinions was finished, Senator Melon
aid entered the room, and after 4 brief
cOngratulation of Mrs. Lockwood, ad-
vanced and held whispered talk with
Mr. Justice Harlan. To Mr.. Mcdonald,
Mrs. lockwood believes she largely owes
the success of her "bill of rights" At
last the almost endless grind Of decis-
ions was over. A number of the sterner
sex were first presented to the court aud
admitted TO practice. Then Mr.. A. G..
Riddle, the prosecuting attorney for the
district, who had been sitting by Mrs
Lockwood for half an hour, arose, and
accompanied by Mrs. Lock wood, ad-
vanced to the inner rail of the bar.
Here he paused to allow her to enter
first, but she waved him on and they
took their stand Immediately in front
Of the chief justice. The success of the
application had been the theme of dis
cussiOn all day among the lawyers and
Others in the courtroom, and as Mrs.
Lockwood walked toward the eight
grave and reverend seigniOrs who held
all berhOpes in their hands, there was
batting Of breath and craning of necks,
especially among the outsiders. Mr..
Riddle, speaking in a clear voice, said:
81 move to admit to the bar of this
court Mrs. Belva 4. Lockwood, a mem
ber Of the tar of the Supreme Court of
the district, in good standing and hav-
ing an extensive practice in all its
I 70
well acquainted with the lady, and
know her to be in every way worthy to
practice here" He continued in some
further remarks eulOgistie of his pro-
tegc, referring 10 the law under which he
made the application. Chief Justice
Waite asked, with a smile, whether Mr.
Riddle would vOuch for her character
and respectability. On being assured
that he would, the Court directed Mrs
lockwood to step to the clerks desk and
take the oath. With graceful bow, in
acknowledgment, she proceeded to do
50, but found her brethren of the bar
who had preceded her IN their applica-
cations already there. The oath does
not differ from that in use in the dis
trict court. After signing, she was the
subject OF quite a demonstration, caus-
ing a rap for order from the marshal,
=
eral Williams and others pressing for
ward TO congratulate her on her victory.
Mrs. Lockwood was admitted to the bar
of the Supreme Court of the district on
September 24, 1873, a graduate OF the
National University Law School, of
this city. Her first application to the
United States Supreme Court was made
three years ago, aud refused on the
ground that fair Interpretation of the
rules Of the court admitted only men,
and unless the custom became more ex-
tended I'm the States, or special legisla-
ton took place on the subject, it could
not be done. Eight States now ad-
init women lawyers 70 their
courts Miss Laviuia GoodeH, of
Janesviile, Wis, has been carrying
on a similar but not so successful "A war
in the supreme Court Of that State. She
has obtained the necessary legislation,
but hesitates to repeat the application.
In reply TO a letter for Twice, Mrs. Lock
wood told her To make the trial at once,
and if successful OF not, she would in
troduce her to the United States Su-
preme Court Washington Post.