The morning call., 1891-07-10
A WYOMING JUSTICE.
Interesting Account of a Woman Elected
Justice of the Peace.

Interesting Account of a Woman Elected
Justice of the Peace.
Editor Womdn'S Column, Morning Call:
Soon after the women of Wyoming were
enfranchised some gentlemen decided that
it would be we'll to have woman Justice Of
the Peace, so they selected Mrs. Morris, a
Connecticut woman, who had Deen an
earnest and judciOus woman suffragist, and
worked for her appointment in South Pass
City, the county seat OF Sweetwater County.
Charles p. jackson of the California Pho
neer tells the story:
This recalls very pleasant meeting'with
Mrs. Morris, at Albany, n. Y, in '76 or
about that time, who was then making her
home with her son there, who may be the
sans Mrs Morris. Mrs. Morris had recent
" been an active Justice of the Peace in
Wyoming, and gave me the circumstances
attending her appointment, and her expert
ence with her first case in court. 1t seemed
there had grown up a little feeling toward
the incumbent - not from any malad-
ministration, but because he had held
the office for long time. and another man,
who had his friends, wanted the position
There was growing M quite feeling, when
it occurred to a couple of business men,
friends of both, to try and allay the feeling
by suggesting that Mother Morris " be
made Magistrate Before calling on Mrs.
Morris they called on the incumbent and
would-be squire and stated the object in
view, viz: that they both yield in favor of
Mrs. Morris, which both. on the enthusiasm
of the moment, agreed TO do. The Sef-ap-
pointed committee then called on Mrs. Nor
ris and stated the purpose OF their visit
Mrs. Morris at once said, "me Magistrate?
Why! | never looked in law-boOk in my
life. What could do in dispensing justice
The idea is preposterous." well, Mrs.
Morris, we know you and your sense of JUS
tice, and have all confidence in your honor
and integrity. and the candidates for the
Office have both assured us that if you will
take the Office they Will cheerful'y resign
all claims, and will use every effort for your
appointment" "Weil, if these are the facts
/ will consent to take the office, but you
know, gentlemen, that know nothing about
the duties, but will do the best / can"
In due time the appointment came and
Mrs. Morris was installed as 4 Justice of
the Peace in Wyoming. The docket of "the
incumbent" was handed over and in due
time came the first case. This was trivial
matter between two ltigants, both well
known to Mrs. Morris, which had been
commenced before the former justice.
OF course it .hecame known through the
town that Mrs Esq. Morris was going to
have her first trial, and every spare citizen
must of course be present to hear it. The
court" met in the courtroom on time and
called on the plaintiff. through his attorney,
to state his case. The defense was then
called on in the same manner. Your at
torneys have stated your case correctly.
have they, gentlemen" Yes, nam"
Then this court has no jurisdiction over
the case" The attorney for the plaintiff I'M
mediately rose ana commenced talking. bat
the esquire" said BEG your pardon, sir,
but this court has no jurisdiction in this
case"
sTurning to the litigants she said: "Here,
Charles, want you and George 10 go home
with me, come right along" They both
went, and on arrival al her house she turned
to George and said: =" see here, George,
you owe Charles so much, now you just pay
him and settle up right here, or | will never
give either of you another piece of pie as long
as you live" They both burst into hearty
laugh and did there and then settle the mat
ter in dispute, ard after heartily eongratu-
lating the new squire" on her justice,
went out and told the story. which soon be-
came known through the town, and Mrs.
Morris first case in court became as noted
as was its justice
1t was fact that she had no jurisdiction
over the case. but why she knew it to be so
she could not say, only that she knew it to
be so. Mrs. Morris admitted that she did
not make much money out of the office, but
she did feel that she lessened litigation and
made more friends among would-be liti-
giants.
The foregoing Is in substance what Mrs.
Morris told me. have often taken occasion
to tell Of her experiences as told me, and al
ways with firm belief that the duties of
Justice of the Peace were as faithfully
and conscientiously carried out as though
she had been man.
Judge Kincman says If Mrs Morris: 1T
was Mrs. Morris nei hbors who first sug-
gested the appointment that secured her the
office, and manfully sustained her during
her whole term. She tried some forty cases,
and decided them so successfully that not
one of them Was appealed to a higher court;
and | know of no one who has held the office
of Justice of the Peace in Wyoming who
has left a more acceptable record in all re-
spects than Mrs. Morris. In these progress
sive days people live to meet their reward.
One year ago Wyoming became State, with
Constitution securing entire equality, and
Mrs. Morris was the woman selected by the
State officials to receive from the Governor
for the women of Wyoming an embossed
copy of that perfect constitution. and she
who sOwed the first suffrage seed in the Ter
ritOry, who was Mother Morris twenty years
ago, received that terra magma cliarta
with suitable words, as appropriate
those OF Governor Warren. People who
fancy that equal suffrage will divide
men and women should read the doings of
that jubilee day, see how men and women
citizens respect and complement each other
and learn that true expediency is simply
right doing.
Gfiroy, Juiy, 1891. SIS.