The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1909-12-11
TRANSCRIPT FROM A
WOMAN'S DIARY.


lOriginaLl
Herbert Ringland called Tuesday
night for his answer. told him that
l wished my husband to be interested
with me In the amelioration of the con-
diton of women. We had long dis
cussion on the subject during which
he asked me If believed in women
serving on ]uries. told him that !
believed In woman performing any
and every duty q man performs except
certain manual labor and the duties of
soldier. Then he said that women
had been tried on a jury and he had
been present at a trial before such q
jury. asked him where, but he cut
me short by telling me the following
story:
1.-THE prisoner, Thomas Adolphus
Sweetword, was q mild hammered OF
eyed individual with q red head and
freckled Skin. thought him the home
Hest man | had ever seen and, since
he was to be tried for bigamy, wonder
ed how he had ever persuaded one wO.
man to marry him, not to speak of two,
when l heard a woman behind me
say, isn't he handsomeT 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 1t loose and ready to come
down, while the other six adjusted
hnfB hok
to the Indictment accusing the prison
er of marrying FIVE women. saw in
the face Of every woman on the Jury
terrible premonition Of the wrath to
come and thought how hard 1t was En-
a man to be tried for such an offenss
before women.
"Wife No gave her testimony Arst
It was simply form to establish her
position. She looked pityingly 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 a tame bull before the
toreadors in a Spanish arena.
"Wife No. told the story Of how she
had been deceived. betrayed. ruined
/ glanced al the jury as they listened
to her. Their eyes were flashing, their
facial muscles were working. but thay
were restraining their wrath molly.
Wife No. was at a disadvantage hsR
appearance being against her. 8hO
was surely very untastefully dressed.
"And so the recital Of betrayal WOnE
on till the Ave women had TOLD tAslr
narrowing tales. The other tive ~
not appear. was very much lAtag-
ested in watching the expression e
the jury women. The prisoner might
better have been subject to the claws
Of twelve hungry lionesses. Being the
first time they had sat on a jury, al
were, Of course, ignorant Of the forms.
As soon as wife No. 8 had given har
experience-'she was the most attrac-
tive and her case was the most heart
rending Of all-up jumps the forOwO-
man and says, or, rather, screams:
"'Your honor, we don't need to hear
any more OF this case. We are ready
to find a verdict without leaving the
box
'The Judge bowed politely to her and
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 muttOriRg:
axe 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, ana TIE
prisoners attorney arose. He SUM
moned but few witnesses to. Dr0vs
that Mr.. Sweetword's home with his
first wife had been a pandemoniuM;
that this had driven the poor man 10
seek another and another till he had
tried Eve without getting that cOnAu-
bal comfort that any man has a hight
to expect. When the advocate came %
sum up he skillfully contrived to throw
all the blame ON the women in the
case, making no mention Of the va
rlous infraetions of the law Of the
land. He drew a picture of thu hor'
rors of married life with wife Nc. /
and lnsinuated that wife No. 2 had
been no better than she should have
been before her marriage with Sweet
word. Wife No. 3, he claimed, was too
/ vulgar for any man TO nVe WIN. WIS
No. 4. who had angled for him, had
shamefully neglected him, while Ne. )
was a hard drinker.
"'Here il a case, ladies' he concluA'
ed. where man comes to gTiot
through bis desire to have Z happy
home. Unlike the pampered clubman
who selfshly decries marriage, spend
ing all his income on himself instead
Of supporting some good woman. the
accused, believing in the SRnctity Of
connubial life, makes Eve ineneetual
attempts I'd build a nest for tAs
dear innocents that are to come He
then pictured the dreadful punishmsAt
the law inflicts on this poor hunter foG
happiness, while the selfish baeAeiO1
goes free. His last card, a glimpse Of
prison life, was very efectuaL He
closed by saying that he left his ell
ent's case in the hands Of those -
was sure were good, merciful Christian
women.
1.-THE jury retired after definite h