Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-12-03
JOHANNA ENGIEMAN.
She Qualified as q Juror and Would
Have Made q Good One.

She Qualified as q Juror and Would
Have Made q Good One.
With deep bow in Judge Houser,
Mrs. Johanna Engleman Of Santa
Monica, the first woman Juror on re-
cord in the state Of California, took
her place in the jury box In depart
ment of the superior court in Los
Angeles. Together with ten other
members Of the term trial jury she
successfully passed the qualifications
necessary for jury service.
Questioning the panel as whole.
Judge Houser informed the tales
men that to qualify they must be
citizens of the United States, over the
age Of twenty-one years, in posses
sion of their normal faculties, able to
understand the English language and
assessed on the last assessment roll Of
the county.
"Are there any Of those present
who do not possess these qualifica-
tions?" he asked.
Mrs. Engleman replied that she
was qualified to serve under the rules
as stated by the court.
Two jurors protested that they
were not on the assessment rolls and
were excused. Others got away on
account Of business engagements,
sickness, deafness and similar COM
plants, and about a dozen Of the
panel. escaped jury service in that
way.
Not so Mrs. Engleman. While 9TH
ers were urging all kinds or reasons
for evading service she accepted
gladly the chance to do duty as
citizen.
When the jury had been examined
as a whole Judge Houser directed
that the jury box be filled with
twelve for the trial of the first case
on the docket-a suit against local
street railroad company, for personal
injuries.
Johanna Engleman." was the first
name called by W. n. Meserve, clerk
Of the court, who professed 1t was an
accident by which the slip Of paper
with her name upon It chanced to
come first into his hand. She was
then interrogated as prospective
juror.
The case was that of Florence Mar
tin, s-year-old girl, against the Los
Angeles Railway company for $500
damages for injuries sustained in a
wreck in 1908.
CARRIED in black and wearing a
large lace hat, Mrs. Engleman arose
from her seat beside her son In the
court room and took her place In the
Jury box. She was questioned by w.
Ona Morton, attorney for the plain
tiff.
Replying to his queries, Mrs. Engle-
man gave her name. residence as
Santa Monica and occupation as
housewife.
Have you any prejudices against
a person injured by a street car suing
the railroad for damages?" asked
Attorney Morton. ..
None, whatever" she answered
composedly and apparently oblivious
of the fact that she was an object Of
peculiar interest to a hundred per-
sons in the court room.
Did you ever ride on a railroad
pass?"
Never"
did your husband?"
"I think not"
"If chosen as a Juror would you
try this case impartially and without
prejudice to the rights Of either
party?"
Eyes, sir"
IF you decided the plaintiff was
injured by the negligence Of the rail-
road would you find damage In en-
amount sufficient to fully comper.-
safe for the injuries?"
"Yes, SIR"
pass the juror" said Attorney
Morton.
"If have my way she will sit as
a Juror" Mr.. Morton said later. mot
because she Is woman, but because
I think she will make fair juror"
Before the jury had been COM
pleted counsel for the railroad COM
pany announced the case had been
compromised for $1,000, and Mrs.
Engleman with the other Jurors was
dismissed from the jury box without
her eligibility to sit in a case having
...,1a ,non -Evchan1e