The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-05-01
THE TRUTHFUL SEX.
A Majority of Lawyers Decide
Against Women.
NO DIFFERENCE. SOME SAY.
Police DuPsRintsndsnt Believes woman
Moro Readily Than Aan-Ss
Does Abe Hummsl

NEW YoHK, April 2aIspecial Core
spondence (which Is the truthful sexr
That is what the question came to ut
last. The discussion began in the Lawyers
Club. and turned At first upon the relative
veracity Of men and women when testify
ing under oath. It became apparent At
once that there was great diversity OF
opinion among the disputants, although
the majority were inclined to rate the
average man a. more truthful than the
average woman. The discussion was pur-
sued with considerable spirit and earnest
ness, and, of course, many instances were
cited on each side TO support one OF the
other contention. Special instances, how
ever, prove nothing, and the result was
that the disputation closed with the con-
victions Of each man in statu quo, nothing
having been sad from which general
conclusion Is TO the comparative yeracity
of the sexes could be deduced and agreed
upon.
The matter was 50 interesting that the
discussion was renewed from time 70 time
in private Offices and court Hobbies, wher-
ever lawyers CHANGED to meet. Thus it
happened that the writer became party
TO one of the disputes and learned TO what
extent the question had been debated
Throughout. the profession. 1t was of such
general interest that he undertook to Sc
cure the opinions Of representative men
whose experience would be of value, with
the idea OF publishing them and 50 dis
cover what may be the general public view.
One result of the quest has been the
arousIng OF a quaint smile upon the faces
of the parties interviewed, and 80 far it has
doubtless been the means of contributing
a mite to the sum Of human Joy. Judges,
lawyers and policemen-and these three
classes of men have the most direct oppor-
tunities for observation upon the matter
all found some measure Of amusement and
interest in the consideration Of the prob
lem. But they took it seriously, and the
opinions set forth below were carefully,
if NOT prayerfuliy. thought out and e1-
pressed.
It should be said that the writer, with
due regard to the limitations Of space, did
not attempt to see everybody who was
great in his respective vocation; the aim
was rather TO cover the ground by speak
ing with men IN different classes of prac-
tice and with somewhat different expert
ences. One general conclusion upon which
all except one sgree is that there is less de-
liberate perjury committed in our courts
than seems to prevail in the opinion of the
general public. That most people mean
to speak the truth is the conviction of pro-
fessional men. This viii surprise many
readers, and should crafty all.
The question which served to draw forth
the following opinions was substantially
this:
What, in your opinion. is the relative
veracisy Of witnesses as between men and
womenf"
Every man was asked to consider the
question in the light of his own expert.
enee, and to discuss it from two points of
view-witnesses who were directly inter
ested in the issue. and witnesses who
would not be affected whichever way the
case might result; and, further, whether
experience in courts led 70 q conclusion AZ
to veracity generally in comparison Of the
sexes.
One of the hardest men in the world 70
deceive with lie is Police Superintendent
Thomas Byrnes. He should understand
the question If anybody does.
1T is most interesting" he said, sal.
though is never occurred TO me in Just
this way. Il would take considerable
time TO formulate . correct answer, be-
cause ! should have to go carefully over
all my experience in questioning persons
an experience which, as you know, has
been rather long. But / will say this,
that If man and q woman were brought
to me and their statements conaictedH
should believe the woman. This has been
an inviola5le rule with me since became
connected with the police force, and see
no reason to change il expect to fol-
low that rule IS long as ! am connected
with the department.. and generally you
may say that / would believe q woman
more readily than would believe man"
This was an interesting answer, coming,
as 1t did, from the most famous Of Ameri-
can detectives, man who has infinite &C.
casion to ferret the truth from unwilling
witnesses and TO CLEAN il as best he might
from volunteers.
In striking contrast with the grea: de-
tectiye's opinion are the following vigor-
Gus expressions from man tho has occu-
pied seat in the New York courts for
many years. His name is known every
where, but he insists that it shall not De
used here. Hundreds, doubtless, will at
once recognize him by his words:
You NAV say tina. probably more &C
cused persons appear before me In the
course of the year than before any other
jugs Al tLAc bOEAA, c1A4 L.
amount 70 many thousands annually, with
also the usual train of witnesses"
Then, falling into the line Of the argu-
ment, be continued:
1T does seem 10 me IS If 8 woman were
incapable Of telling the truth. except by
accident / have been utterly discouraged
when attempting 70 extract an item OF
truth from their testimony. II women
witnesses were opposed TO men l shouldn't
credit the women Tor any more than was
corroboraied by the men If two women
were opposed 70 each other | shouldn't be-
Esve either, for in that case they cannot
tell the truth.
You can talk IS much as you please
about the timer moral caliber OF soman's
character; il is all nonsense. They may
be fascinating, charming and all that, and
their inferiority in physical stamina may
rightly command q mans Difference and
support; but that gives no reason 70 think
them more capable than men OF telling the
truth. Even il they were conscientious
and wished to De veracious their excitable
emotions and their loose imaginasions
would incapacitste them for giving cor
rect version of the affair 81 issue.
This conclusion has nothing 10 do with
their character viewed from any other
point than tina. of truthfuiness. I cannot
see that 1t makes any difference whether
they are high or low by birth, ignorant OF
cultivated, fortunate or unfortunate l
should credit the mAu. The fact IS that in
most instances where women have testified
before me they were interested parties.
For tina. matter woman, through the
constant exercise Of her emotions and
affections, or what not, can hardly fail TO
be swsyed by interest on one side or the
other, and that. in addition TO the other
elements IN the matter makes her com
paratively unserviceahle witness
II -z~]