The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-05-01

"There is no difference Male and female
witnesses differin their capacity or willing
ness to tell the truth, but the difference
depends upon Individual characteristics,
not upon sex. In my experience l have
seen nothing upon which to base general
and conclusive comparison between the
sexes as to veracity other than that no dis
tinction can be drawn
But such conservative opinions are rare.
This is question on which many people
feel strongly. Witness the following from
one of tue most skillful of oss-eXaminers:
GALLANT ABE HUMMEL.
When the question was put to the famous
little lawyer of Centre street. MIR. Hummel
responded, confidently:
ga woman is the more truthful, every
time. Her nature is such that she is not
inclined to scheming for advantage as men
are, and, although there are women who on
proyocaton will commit perjury, say en-
phaticGlly that as between the sexes, the
women are the moro veracious."
"Hnis, of course, is deduced from your
1 experience in the courts!"
! Certainly. / would rather go before
Judge or a jury with one woman than with
/ half dozen men. | should be more conf
dent that the woman would tell the truth,
and l should also feel pretty certain that
the woman would produce q moro telling
effect upon the court"
''Does this follow when the witness is not
/ personally Interested in the issue9'
Gust the same. You may put me down
as believing the woman every time"
EX-JUDGE HALVES.
Here is an opinion, judiciaily expressed
as becomes a man who has sat upon the
bench. But, in spite of its impartiaity
members of the sterner sex will probably
find something favorable in 1t. Ex-Judge
Granville p. Halves is the speaker:
Truth telling" said he, lis not so much
a matter OF conscience or fear of punish
ment as most people think. 1t is rather the
result of civilization, OF training, and of
culture. In the lowest strata of society
there is little, if any, restraint upon the
tongue. The women in such a class are
utterly untrustworthy; they will swear to
anything. For that matter, in my opinion,
the truth has but the slightest influence
upon the declarations OF witness. The
men in the lowest classes will como nearer
the mark probably, because, while actuated
by interest, they are rather keener than
the women to see which way real interest
lies.
Among the ul5ivated classes the verac-
ity Of men and women is about equal The
best woman is the best possible person in
the world; the worst woman Is the worst
possible person. This conclusion has no
reference to Righteousness; it is concerned
with the gen. raj mofal-inaAe-up OF the per
son in cues Jon. A good woman, cult
waited, imbued with religious sensibility,
cannot be induced to swerve from the
truth. When woman is bad her moral
nature seems to be wholly undermined and
ruined and she will stop at nothing tc
effect what may seem advantageous to her.
1.-THE most dangerous wltnessstO himself
and his side of the contention is the man
who knows it all. AS q rule he tries to be
clever; he3will swear to direct falsehood
but he will 9vade and endeavor smartly tt
conceal pi It of the truth. He is sure to
be tripped u Few women attempt this
and when iC. comes to the effect of theil
testimony urs x jury 1 think they rather
carry more wsras than men. This is prob
aoly because or ca. or regards the woman.
mind as simIqi skin the mans; ne be,
lieves that she p.ah1 m plan IN 1 facts a6l
course there are l- Rssi where iurle.