The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-07-12
WHEN WOMEN GO TO LAW
COMEDY OF THE COURTROOM WHEN
THEY HAVE A LEGAL sET-To.
Trivial Causes for Action Develop
Endless Testimony and Much
crfmoniou Discussion.
NeW York Times.

ed into small space than IN a courtroom
when a legal set-to between women is in
progress.
From a masculine standpoint women in
woke the intercessiOn Of the law in very
trivial matters. They settle before the
august tribunal differences which men
would either ~adjudicate by means Of their
fists or, failing that strenuous method of
efecting a compromise, through reasonable
discussion. Women, on the contrary, scorn
fsticuffs as derogatory to their dignity: as
for reasonable discussion-that, obviously,
is out OF the question. Hence the necessity
OF a public trial.
The cases in which women figure in court
are OF many kinds. The clearinghouse
variety Is most common. Domestic tran
guilty is by no means universal in those
cosmopolitan abodes and the tits between
a hostess and her paying and nonpaying
guests are many. Usually these scrim-
images hinge on the scarcity OF money and
the consequent seizure of luggage. In such
cases each woman considers herself the in
jured party. II the landlady doesn't sue
for her money the lodger is sure to sue for
her trunks. and so they ara reasonably
sure TO have a quarrel before them come to
the parting of their ways. Generally the
ledger gets the best Of 1t. This Is espe-
cialIy true in cases where she happens to
be a business woman. The court Is lenlent
and IL they can only stretch Facts and their
Vaccinations fer enough 10 make II appear
that the captive luggage contains a Poruoh
OF the means wherewith they produce a
livelihood the IandIady doesn't have the
ghost OF a show.
Sometimes the plea thus advanced seems
rather far-fetched. Only a Few weeks ago
cases of woman versus woman. Inc PLAIN
tiff was an indignant lodger. she nailed
from Boston, and knew how TO express ner-
self.
: ..She has coniscated my personal prop
erty,' was the complaint preferred against
the landlady, who stood inside the ranlns
twirling her wedding ring wrathfuly, and
whereby / acquire my sustenance."
The Judge rubbed the bald spot on tne
top of his head. you mean, ne saiG,
that she is holding the stuff you work
WITH" -
The Boston woman looked disguised:
Yes" she replied. that is what mean.
The landlady put in an impairment re-
mark. "It is mighty funny" she said,
s.that she couldn't sustain herself, except
through charity, before her trunks were
The Judge frowned the boarding house
mistress down. What is your business?
he asked Of the ledger.
II teach said the ledger.
?" asked the judge.
"French. German, music and oratory.
And they are all in her trunk, COM
mented the irrepressfble Iandlady.. Sne
keeps all her accomplishments In nei
The low order OF sarcasm was lost on the
woman from Boston. They are IN my
trunk" she reaffirmed solemnly, "and 1
want to get them out. 1 can do no "orh
until / do"
mony, most of which was IN favor ~ bnT
ledger. and a verdict was rendered In her
favor. with the help of a constable as
sistant the trunk was hnaIly secured: ne
unpacking was watched with interest," -! q
curiosity seeker who had, been a witness
of the whole proceeding. The revelations
were disappointing TO the curious one
whose sympathy had been with the LOGGER:
THE French. German and oratory were not
forthcoming. although they, being abstract
quantities., might have been present IN an
invisible form. and the music, Whlcn was
capable OF being reduced TO a very ma
terial substance, was represented by an
old exercise book and half a dozen sneets Oh
popular music given away by a SUNDAY
newspaper. How those Example or the dl-
vine art could be utilized In earning a nv
ing was a mystery TO everybody except the
lodger from Boston, but, trashy, tnougn
thew were, they had helped her shirk the
responsibility of a board bill, and that was
what she was after
DID NOT GET THE MAN.
pressmaking ranks next to domestic econ
omy as a source of feminine squabbles.
There nave been some very interesting law
suits In this town over clothes. Naturally,
those in which the greatest expense was
involved, held the attention of the public
ave. but some Of the minor cases that
never attained the dignity of newspaper no
toriety are richer in detail than the more
famous trials. Only a short while ago 1t
was the duty of an East Side magistrate to
preside at a trial Astounding with romantic
incidents. The plaintiff was a dressmaker
with snappy black eyes, the defendant a
good-looking blonde with innocent brown
orbs. Judged by her scintillating optics,
the d~ressmaker seemed a character so
shrewd that it would be difficult TO get the
better of her, but the testimony ELECTED at
the trial proved that in comparison with the
meek-eyed defendant she was a babe In
arms o..,soa .bo
plaintiff, in explanatory phrases; for a
whole trunkful of them, not TO mention
wraps, negligees and separate waists"
She paused and glared at the defendant.
The defendant nodded and waved a morn
Ing paper languidly.
"She told me-" resumed the plaintiff,
''that she had prospects-'great expecta-
tons was the way she put it. She had
managed TO get herself half way engaged
10 a nan with money. Unfortunately, the
man was something OF an artist He knew
ulCC ClOllACS lC DG "a ANAAB oA0 AZ
would take, so the woman declared, a stun
ming wardrobe TO carry through the en-
gagement aad the marriage deal The wom-
an was down on her luck. She had neither
the wardrobe nor the means OF getting IL.
She was positive, however. that II she could
Just make the raise OF a few becoming
Clothes she could play the game TO a salts
factory ending. She implored me to help
her out. If you will just fix me up for this
campaign she said, you will have me for
your friend for life, and after / get married
] will give you so much work that you will
never find time TO sew a stitch for any
body else, and we will all be rich and hap
py.' The prospect seemed pleasing, but i
was cautious. / didn't want TO take the
woman's word for anything. / went around
and took a good look at the man she In
tended 10 marry. He looked like a fool, and
] had no doubt about her getting him. So
pensive. and IL nearly broke me to provide
the material and pay my help. All that
happened a year ago. The woman has not
paid me-. The loss hits me hard, and 1 want
my money"
The defendant smiled. Presently she was
impaled Oh the inquisitorial stake. Don't
you know" said the plaintiffs lawyer.
THAT You are a wicked woman? Why don't
you pay this poor woman her bill?"
Because" said the defendant, II didn't
get the man"
The meek-eyed woman looked unhappy
as she made the humiliating confession,
and the temper Of the audience changed.
While the plaintiff was presenting her side
OF the case the sympathy OF attendants and
onlookers was plainly with her as the de-
frauded party. but when il came out that
the defendant had suffered n triple loss
through pride. affection and pOcketbook,
rafhlfe sentiment vaared offpkIv and IL tba