The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-09-18
SHE WON HER FIRST LAWSUIT

Far moro interesting than the half
hundred men and women who sat in
rain soaked clothes in the stuffy court
room of Justice Foster yesterday after
noon, and yet looking strangely out of
place, was a mere girl with straw hat
tipped with brown plumes. prominent
nose and eyes with wonirous lashes.
braid OF dark hair hung down her back,
and when she entered the court room she
patted the bow of her sash, Ms dll women
do, and smothed the ends of her broad
white lace collar. which alone relieved
the somberniss Of her black dress.
1t was a gloomy day for Miss Belle
Douglas to make her debut as a practice
ing lawyer, and yet the little woman
with her rakish hat and big white collar
walked with confident air to the bar OF
the court when Justice Fowler called the
case OF Ralph Boor, by his mother. VS..
the Chicago Loop and Portiere company.
The plaintiff is ready" said Miss
Douglas. as she slapped stack of law
books on the court 8 desk. The lawyers
in the room pricked up their ears. sort OF
shook themselves together and crept close
to the pretty attorney.
"We are quite prepared to meet this
issue" replied Lawyer William Arthur,
who was the legal representative of the
corporation. The court beamed upon
Miss Douglas as he leaned forward to
listen to the arguments. The case was a
strange one. Ralph is the 1.-year-old son
Of divorced woman whose husband is
still living. He was employed as an
srrand boy by the company at q salary of
$4. so per week, but received nominal
discharge early this month. The mother,
to whom the boy always gave his earn.
ings, claimed that the corporation owed
the lad for six weeks work. and assum-
ing he self to be guardian of his welfare,
in view OF the absence from home OF the
father, demanded that the money be paid
over to her. a claim which Miss Doug las
declared she had right to file. Lawyer
Arthur. however, maintained that the
law recognized the father as the sole
guardian, inasmuch as he was still alive,
and in the teeth of the fact that the
other had been given the custody of the
lad by the divorce court.
There were two slips of paper placed
in evidence, one OF which was signed by
the boy and the other by the mother.
These were in the form OF formal de-
mands for the payment OF the wages
claimed to be due from the company.
I he court took a lead pencil from his vest
and figured on a sheet of paper. Then
he announced his decision in favor OF
the lanuiff for the five weeks wages,
amounting to $22.5 so.
"And how abouts' attorneys fees"
coyly asked Miss Douglas. flushed with
her first lsgal victory. the justice beamed
again in those wondrous eyes.
Lets sue," he finally unused. "you
have been on this case two days. Well.
we'll put it at the limIt-$l0. 1 guess
that will do"
Miss Douglas smiled again as she
picked up her books and followed the
plaintiff through o file of Iain-soaked
coats and trousers. When she reached
the street Miss Douglas smiled coquetishly
at a dripping facade of the great tenn pies
of justice in the court house, and then.
selling her skirt with a proud and firm
grip, disappeared in Washington street.
Lawyer Arthur said that the company
would appeal the case. Miss Douglas is
about 10 years old. She is a graduate of
northwest division high school and the
Chicago college of law. Her victory
yesterday was the outcome of her first
appearance III court as an attorney. Chi
cago Chronicle.