The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1879-02-06
Mrs. fplts as a Lawyer.

The San Francisco Chronicle gives a
long account of a reporters interview
with Mrs. Clara NJ. Foltz, well known in
this State, concerning her stGdy and
practice Of law in California. "Her ex-
perience at the barr is thus given:
81 passed my first examination on the
4th Of last September, the day that my
dear good mother was fifty years old. She
and my brothers had tried to dissuade
me from trying because they feared I
should fail, but / was confident, aud
shall never forget her pride and Joy
when ] went home with my certificate,
aud now We laughed when my name be-
gan TO get into the papers at its being a
realization Of wonder Of my early girl
ish days, often expressed by me as to
whether my name would 90 down TO
the page Of history for some personal
achievement. Since that time I have
had a number Of cases. Ny first case
was a divorce matter, but ] prefer not
TO speak of that for the reason that l
don't like the idea of divorce. A great
many women have consulted me in re-
gard to getting a divorce. They natu-
rally come 90 me when in trouble Of that
kind. / always try to discourage the
pursuit, and persuade them 10 20 back
and give the husband another trial and
see If il isn't possible 10 get along with
out separation. I deem the marriage re-
latiOn too high and holy to be broken ex-
cept for the very gravest IF causes. My
next case was that Of a young English
woman who came to San Jose, was un-
fortunate with her husband, was de-
serted and fell sick. She finally started
to come to this city to a cousin of hers.
The doctor who attended her had her
baggage seized for debt at the depot, and
AS she had no money, she came to me.
| sued TO replevin the goods, but the
plaintiff gave bonds and took them away,
leaving her penuiless aud without
change Of clothing for herself and child.
The suit was tried in a Justices court
and l argued il, handling the plaintiff
and the officers severely. The effects
seized being wearing apparel, were eX-
empJ from execution, and of course l
won the case, getting back the property
seized with damages for detention.
"Since that / have tried three cases in
the district court and won them. The
other was a divorce suit which I fustf-
tuted for lady, and subsequently, per-
suaded her to have it dismissed The
cases involved questions of law and fact,
/ auu 1 argued them myself j have two
cases now pending in the Twentieth
/ District Court. One Of them is an in
/ tricate and important case, involving
I title TO a tract of land in the Santa Cruz
mountains and proceedings to set aside
an alleged fraudulent survey. / am for
the defense, and Frank E Spencer, one
of the leading lawyers Of Santa Cruz, for
the plaintiff IL is an intricate and i'm
pOrLauU case but I feel u1astar of IL 7
filed a demurrer, which was Overruled;
/ then filed an answer and issue is
Joined on the pleadings; and l am satis..
fled l am going to win it. In all my
appearances at court I have met uni
formly courteous and respectful treat
ment from attorneys and officers. I do
not yet know whether I shall remain
here in practice or not. / sometimes
feel like returning TO San Jose, where I
am better known, but 1 intend to con-
tinue in the law and make success of it.U