The San Francisco call., 1908-03-08
Shortridge for Defense


Hes really very charming fell
low" Mr.. Shortridge answered smil-
ingly. He is conrtly, gracious. affable
In speech. and underlying all that are
solid attainments. but when 1t comes
TO his opinion of woman on the wit
ness stand I dissent. Woman needs no
defense from me: but IL she thinks she
does, I'll step forward to defend her
for truth and veracitv In court or
out of court woman Is just as truth
full as man. Indeed. believe she is
more truthful / think that she can
apprehend the truth as clearly as man
can. and that rs witness she can
testify and does testify as accurately
and truthfully es man testsfies. This
discussion does not Involve the
strength OF her understanding or her
reasoning faculties or power. but as to
them, l think there is a good deal Of
very loose and inconsiderate talk In
dulged IN By some very self-sufficient
men. AS to her .eracity, say from
some little experience that she Is more
devoted 10 truth than her brother is
Now and then We see q woman--a
mother. a daughter, a sister or Wife
perjury for some one whom she loves,
and from such exhibitions the conclu-
sion Is jumped at that she has no re.
gard for truth or the sanctity OF her
oath. But do men never commit per-
jury? From her inexperience with
worldly affairs and perhaps with court
proceedings, woman as a witness (and
I say this with great respect for
them) is more like child, tcstifying
fully. freely and disingenuously, as Il
were. Ii must be borne in mind that
the word truth is very vague and
ambiguous word. At first blush the
word may seem to convey a fixed def
mite idea, but looked at little more
closely, 1T really means q belief or
opinion as to some existing or nom
existing fact. That women ere prone
to testify rashly and without concern.
as to the accuracy or truth of their
statements under oath 1 do not be-
lieve. On the contrary. since they, as
universal rule are morally purer
and better than man, less contami-
mated by the evil influences that exist,
and warp and mar human character,
they have a liyelier regard for their
own reputation, and hence cling to-
the truth, which is always an anchor
OF safety A woman knows that to-
answer falsely Is not only a crime but
sin. Right there is the point often,
overlooked. I fear men are disposed
to look upon false swearing under
oath as a crime only. But it's more.
1t is a sin. 1 am inclined to think,
that woman is more disposed than,
man to consider perjury as sin to,
be avoided as a blot upon her soul not
to be self-inilcted
But whatever may induce her to
speak the truth, or whatever may pre-
vent her from testifying falsely, 1 am
satisfied, that as a witness. she Is as
careful and as reliable in testifying to,
facts within her knowledge as man
All this / make bold to say with due,
respect to my friend James Hamilton
Lewis"
But why go farther? Men in posi-
tions to know had come to the de-
fense OF woman willingly enthusiastic
cally What need. like female Don
Quixote. to tilt at windmills? (Nothing
personal intended to DR.. Tanner, Colo-
mel Lewis or to Judge Keever of
Cleveland. who. during the progress OF
a trial, announced "All women arej
CATS
David in his wrath cried "All men
are liarsw But since he was angry}
at the time, such statement neces-
sarily loses weight.
After all. perhaps, the palm. arbore-
ally speaking, should be awarded to !
that Chesterfield@ OF chivalry, Colonel
James Hamilton Lewia ?