Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1891-11-05
wYoMlNe's FEMALE JUSTICE.

Mrs. Morris DispOses of a Case That the
Court Had No Jurisdiction Over.
Soon after the women of Wyoming were
enfranchised some men decided that it
would be well to have woman justice OF
the peace, so they selected Mrs. Morris, a
Connecticut woman, who had been an ear
nest and judicious woman suffragist and
worked for her appointment in South Pass
CITY, the county seat of Sweetwater county.
This recalls a very pleasant meeting with
a Mrs. Morris at Albany in 1875, or about
that time, who was then making her home
with her son there, who may be the same
Mrs. Morris Mrs. Morris had recently
been an active justice of the peace in Wyo
ming, and gave me the circumstances at
tending her appointment and her expert
euce with her first case in court. 1t seemed
there had grown up little feeling toward
the incumbent-not from any maladminis-
tration, but because he had held the Office
for a long time, and another man, who had
his friends, wanted the position. There
was growing up quite a feeling, when it oc-
Cured to couple of business men, friends
of both, to try and allay the feeling by sug.
costing that Mother Morris" be made
magistrate. Before calling on Mrs. Morris
they called upon 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 self appointed committee then called
on Mrs. Morris and stated the purpose of
their visit Mrs. Morris at once said: "Me
magistrates Whyl l never looked at a
law book in my life. What could do in
dispensing justice? The idea is preposter-
Gus" "Well, Mrs. Morris, we know you
and your sense of justice, 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 cheerfully resign all claims and
will use every effort for your appoint
ment." "Well, if these are the facts l will
consent to take the office, but you know,
gentlemen, that know nothing abost the
duties, but will do the best can"
In due time the appointment came, and
Mrs. Morris WIS installed as justice of the
peace of Wyoming. The docket of "the
incumbent" was handed over and in due
time came the first case. This was a
trivial matter between two litigants, both
well known to Mrs. Morris, which had
been commenced befor the former justice
vi COuGSt ~ DeChIll6 kllOWH UHIOuSu JIlt
town that Mrs. Esquire Morris was going
to have her first trial, and every spare citi-
zen 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 de.
| Tense was then called in the same manner
"Your attorneys have stated your case
| correctly, have they, gentlemenW Eyes
| ma'am." Then this court has no juris
| diction over the case" The attorney for
zoe plaintiff Immediately rose and con.
msnced talking but the esquire" said
beg your pardon, sir but this court has
no jurisdiction over this case"
Turning to the litigants she said: Here
| Charles, ] want you and George to go home
| with me; come right along" They both
went, and on arrival at 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 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 rs famous as was its justice.
| 1t was a fact that she had no jurisdiction
| over the case, but why She knew it to be SC
! 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. california Pioneer.