Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1891-08-29
Awyom,nr Justice.

Soon after the women oil wyoming
we're eniranchised some gentlemen con-
cluded that It would be we'll TO have
woman justice Of the peace. 80 thew Sc
lected Mrs. Morris, a Connecticut wo-
man. who had been an earnest ana Ju'
dicious woman su!fragist, and worked
for her appointment in South Pass City,
the county seat of Sweetwater county.
Charles p. Jackson, OF the California
Pioneer, tells this story:
This recalls very pleasant meeting
with Mrs. Morris, nj Albany. New
York. in 70 or about that time. who
was then making her home with her
son there. who may be the same Mrs.
4 Morris. Mrs Morris had recently been
un active Justice OF the peace In Wyo-
ming. and gave me the circumstances
attending her appointment, and her en-
perlrnce with her first case in court. II
seems there had grown up little feel
ing toward the incumbent-not from
any maladministration but because he
had held the Office for q long time. and
another man. who had his friends, want
ed the position. There was growing up
quite feeling, when II occurred 10 a
couple oil business men. friends OF both,
To try and allay the feeling by sug-
costing that Mother Morris" be made
magistrate. Before calling on Mrs.
Norris they called on the incumbent
and would-be squire and stated the OBJ
iect in view, via: that they both yield
in favor OF Mrs. Norris, which both on
the enthusiasm OF the moment AGREED
to do. The self-appointed committee
committee then called on Mrs. Morris
and stated the purpose of their visit.
Mrs. Morris at once said, Me amagis-
trate? Why. l never looked in u law
book in my life What could do in
dispensing justice. The idea is pre-
posterous." "Well. Mrs, Morris, we
know you and your sense OF justice. and
have all confidence in your honor ana
integrity. and the candidates for the
Office have both assured us that II you
will take the Office, they will cheerfully
resign all 81 aims. and will use every el-
fort for your appointment" "Well. II
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 justice OF
the peace in Wyoming. The docket OF
''the incumbent" was handed over, and
in due time came the first case. This
was trivaial matter between two liti-
giants. both we'll known to Mrs. Morris,
whsch had been commenced before the
former justice.
or course it became known through
the town that Mrs. Esq. Morris was 60
| ing to have her first trial, and every
spare citizen must OF course be present
to hear 1t. The 'court" met in the
court room 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 attor-
news have stated your case correctly,
have they, gentlemen" ''Yes ma'am"
''Then this court has no jurisdict'on
over the case" The attorney for the
plaintiff Immediately arose and com.
menced talking. but the squire" said:
BEG your pardon, sir. but this court
has no Jurisdiction in this case"
Turning to the litigants she said:
"Here, Charles, want you and George
to 60 home with me. come right along"
They both went. and on arrival at her
| house she turned 10 George ana salu'
'See here, George, you owe Charles 80
much; now you mus: pay him and settle
I'D right here or ] will never give
either OF you another piece of pie as
long as YOU live" They both burst into
a hearty laugh and did then and there
settle the matter in dispute. and after
heartily congratulating the ''new
squire" on her justice. went out and told
the story, which soon became known
through the town. and Mrs. Morris
first case in court became as famous as
was its justice.
It was fact that she had no jurisdic.
ton over the case. but why she knew 1t
to be so she could not say. only that she
knew it to be so. Mrs. Norris admitted
that she did not make much money out
OF the Office. but she did feel that she
had lesaened litigation and made more
friends among wc"ld-be litigants.