Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1895-04-11

y
marks were made about them by the
Montesano correspondent of one OF our
local papers, we have requested that
the following be inserted in our column
to show that our Montesano w. G. 4. U.
sisters "going to court was not an
isolated case, and that true, earnest
Christian women are no. afraid to 60
where God and Humanity call them,
despite the sneers and opposition of
those who style themselves our "pro-
tectors." 1t seems to us that in the
following case the women were far better
protectors than the men.-Annie b. G.
Elston, w. G. L. U. Supt. of Press.
IN THE CAUSE OF HUMANITY.
Nowhere is the hollowness of nine
tecnth century "chivalry" SO conspicu
Gus, nowhere does the modern man de-
monstrate so clearly his inciliciency and
untrustworthiness as protector of
womankind as in our so-called courts OF
justice. SO long as there are men who
purpose, apparently, Of INDUCING a pru-
rient curiosity; SO long as there are
lawyers who descend to insolcnce and in
suit in their examination OF female wit
nesscs so long as there are judges who
countcnancc and encourage such insolence
and insult SO long, indeed, as there are
women to be tried and women and
children to he questioned and Cross
questioned before the law, the presence
OF women spectators in our court rooms
is for the dignity OF womaDhood in gen
cral and in the interest Of common hui
mainly, absolutely imperative.
The benefcent effect of the mother
influence was strikingly shown in
recent ccurt room scene in Oak Gland, CAL,
in which Mrs. Q. II. Sanford, auditor OF
the state ". c. T. L., by clever
stratagcm checlmatrd il move designed
to cnbarrass giii Witnesses and thus
place them at d disadvantage in giving
their testimony.
Upon complaint a the neighbors, one
Adam 'chmesner Was arrested for in
lannon's crimes, the principal witnesses
against him being his two mothcrcss
daughters, aged respectively eighteen
and nine years. "Thc testimony taken
at the preliminary hearing" said the
newspaper report, "did not give COM
plett story OF Schmegner's crimes, but
attracted Il crowd OF men that occupied
every available portion of the court
ROOM"
Mrs. Sanford, as agent for the Humane
Society, demanded Il trial with closed
doors, but the objection of 'clmegner's
attorncya-whosa motive was obvious
that WAS refused by the court. Impelled
by one Of the inspired ideas which come
TO women in such emergencies, Mrs.
Sanford appealed to the w. G. 7. U. AS
a result, when the court opened twenty
or more gray-haired mothers were found
occupying seats within hearing distance
of ;he witness stand, and many an in
quisitive male spectator was promptly
rclegatcd to Il back seat by the bailif in
order to make room in front for the
ladies'.
Consequently" says our informant,
"hardy a man, aside from the court
officers and attorneys, could hear a word
the witnesses spoke, and instead of hav-
ing an audience that would embarass
them the s'chmegner girls were sur
rounded by Il guard Of mothery, benevo-
faces" Standing by the side of Mrs.
Sanford the nine car-old girl shyly but
plainly told the story OF her fathers
crimcs--ui his inhuman abuse of herself
and his ii.rce year-old baby, Ter state
ments being corroborated by her sister.
In arguing the case the attorney for
the defense, as, was to be expected,
alluded i'll scathing terms to the presence
Of the " hic-ribboHcrs asking il they
were there to see Justice done or from
"morlid curiosity" and was proceeding
more severely TO attack their motives
when he was sharply called to order by
the court. Perhaps it would be in order
to inquire here what were the motives
OF the men in leaving their various i'm
portant business avocaions to be present
at the trial; was it to see justice done
and to protect helpless womanhood and
innocent childhood?
The defense evidently felt bitterly
chagriucd at the thought that the quick
wttedness OF woman had SO success
fully "turned the tables and by a bold
but eminently womanly stroke had
wrested from it its vantage ground and
brought about its defeat. For after a
conference Of fifteen OF twenty minutes
the jury returned a verdict OF guilty.
In this incident is there not timely
suggestion for W. c. T. L. women every
where? There are occasions when
women as we'll as men should spare a
little time to visit our halls OF Justice.
Let us give the lawyers and judges
more OF our attention in the future, and
whenever a woman is to be tried or
woman is to be examined as witness, let
us invade the court rooms.