The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-06-04
TRANSCRIPT FROM A
W0MAN'S DIARY.
torlginal.l

| wished my husband to he interested
with me In the arnelioration of the con.
dltion of women. We had a long dis
cussion on the subject, during which
he asked me II | believed in women
serving ON jurles. | told him that |
believed in woman performing any
and every duty man performs except
certain manual labor and the duties of
soldier. Then he said that women
had been tried on jury and he had
been present at a trial before such
jury. l asked him where, but he cut
me short by telling me the following
story:
"The prisoner, Thomas Adolphus
Sweetword. was mild hammered, OK
eyed individual with red head and
freckled skin. / thought him the home
lest man / had ever seen and. since
he was to be tried for bgamy, wonder
ed how he had ever persuaded one wo-
man to marry him, not to speak of two,
when | heard woman behind me
say. isn't he handsome| The jury,
twelve true and good women, were
sworn and took their seats In the jury
box. They seemed to be conscious that
every one In the spectators seats was
looking at them. Six jury women felt
OF their back hair, evidently expecting
| TO find It loose and ready to come
down, while the other six adjusted
their hats. They listened attentlvely
| TO the indictment accusing the prison
or of marrying five women. | saw In
| Al 90 - on A
terrible preRonition of the wrath to
come and thought how hard it was on
man to be tried for such an offense
| before women.
"Wife No. 1 gave her testimony first
1t was simply form to establish her
position. She looked pltyingly upon
| the prisoner, while he looked at her
with no expression at ALL The other
wives were present. and he stood be-
| fore them like tame bull before the
toreadors in a Spanish arena.
"Wife No. 2 told the story Of how she
had been deceived, betrayed, ruined.
| glanced at the jury as they listened
| to her. Their eyes were flashing. their
| facial muscles were working, but they
were restraining their wrath nobly.
Wife No. 8 was at a disadvantage, Eer
appearance being against her. She
was surely very untastefully dressed.
"And SO the recital OF betrayal went
on till the FIVE women had told their
narrowing tales. The other two did
not appear. / was very much inter
ested in watching the expression of
the jury women. The prisoner might
better have been subject to the claws
of twelve hungry llonesses. Being the
first time they had sat on n jury, all
were, of course, ignorant of the forms
AS soon as wife No. had given heI
experience-she was the most attrac
tive and her case was the most heart
rending of all-up jumps the forewo
man and says. or, rather, screams:
"'Your honor, we don't need to heal
any more Of this case. We are ready
to find a verdict without leaving the
box
"The Judge bowed politely to her ant
told her that verdict would not be IN
order till. evidence for the defense was
In and the case summed up, where
upon she sank back into her seat fan
ming herself violently and mutterlng:
""He can put In any defense he likes
He can't change my opinion
"Some of the men in the room Uttered
but the Judge glared at them, and thu
prisoners attorney arose. He sum
moned but a few witnesses TO Prov
that Mr.. Sweetword's home with hi
first wife had been pandemonlum
that this had driven the poor man t
seek another and another till he hat
tried five without getting that connu
bial comfort that any man has righ
to expect When the advocate came {
sum up he skillfully contrived TO throw
all the blame on the women In tn
case, making no mention or the va
rlous infractions Of the law OF I'll
land. He drew picture of the hoI
rors of married life with wife No.
and insinuated that wife No. ha
been no better than she should hav
been before her marriage with Swee
word. Wife No. 3, he claimed, was to
vulgar for any man to live with. VIII
No. 4, who had angled for him. ha
shamefully neglected him. while No
was a hard drinker.
"'Here is case, ladies' he conclut
ed, where man comes to grle
through his desire to have happ
home. Unlike the pampered clubma
who selfishly decrles marriage, spent
ing all his income on himself instea
Of supporting some good woman. I'll
accused, believing In the sanctity
connubial life, makes five inenectui
attempts TO build nest for Il
dear innocents that are to come II
then pictured the dreadful punishmei
the law infllcts on this poor hunter f.
: happiness, while the selfish bachel'
goes free. His last card. a glimpse I
prison life, was very effectual l.
closed by saying that lie left his cI
ents case In the hands Of those
was sure were good. merciful Christie
, women.
"'rhe jury retired after definite !
structions from the Judge, which noi
Of them listened to. Nobody consi
: cred that the prisoner had the sligl
est chance, as the charge had be-
fully and conclusively proved again
: him and no real defense put in. III