Los Angeles herald., 1909-10-24
BARS WOMEN
AS JURORS in
POLICE COURT
CHIEF DISHMAN REFUSES TO
PERMIT INNOVATION
DECLARES PLACES ARE IN THE
HOMES OF CITY
None of Attaches Around Jail Build
Ing Look with Favor on the
Plan to Use Feminine
Talesmen

The question of woman jurors to try
cases in the police courts was decided
definitely yesterday when Chief Dish
man gave orders instructing the police
captains in command at central police
station to order the patrolman detailed
to summon citizens for jury service not
to get women.
Since the decision of Judge Houser of
the superior court that women were
eligible to qualify as jurors, the matter
has been discussed seriously at the po-
lice station, and Patrolman Hoffman,
who gets the jurymen for the police
court, asked for advice.
According to his statement, he was
directed by Prosecuting Attorney Guy
Eddie to get woman jurors for GER
tain case for which he was seeking c1tl-
zens eligible for jury service. He then,
it is asserted took up the matter with
Captain Dixon, who ordered him TO get
women if necessary.
The matter was taken up with Chief
Dishman, who Immediately ordered
that women should not be served with
subpoenas to serve on a jury, contend
ing that the proper place for women IS
at home attending to their household
duties.
Captain Dixon then saw the matter
in the same light, and heartily agreed
with the chief, and declared that he
would see to it that no women would
serve on police court juries until the
supply of men had been exhausted.
Testimony Revolving
With but few exceptions the attor-
news, Judges and officials at the central
police station declared that women
have no business serving upon police
court iuries, because most of the cases
are of such a character that the news
papers cannot publish. To subject a
woman to the ordeal of hearing lot
OF revolving testimony, they say, would
be degrading and would serve to lower
the high plane of womanhood.
The court bailiffs were the most en-
thusia site advocates of no-woman ju-
ries, They stated it would work hard
shin on them because of their Increased
| duties in the event several OF the
woman jurors appeared in court accom-
panied by their infants.
Suppose they did come into court
with children" said Bailiff Hubbard
"why, I would have to take the little
ones out into the corridor and take care
of them until the trial was finished.
This would delay me in my work, and
besides, it is an undignifed position,
that of attending to a lot Of yelling
Youngsters None of it for NINE"
The fact that some of the woman ju-
rors might have been served with a
summons to sit on jury while enjoy
ing a bargain sale in one of the Broad
way stores, and might be taken into
court with numerous bundles, was men
toned to Bailiff Rosso.
'I do not approve of this new system
of woman jurors" Rosso declared. II
to a. ftpf, the HlS9 PaS
of the fair jurors, and act as regular
checking stand. OF course, would be
responsible for all articles left in my
care, and the miXup that would result
would be too frightful to anticipate.
will do all I can to keep them from
serving on juries in this court"
Matrons DlsapproVe
The police matrons also object to the
idea of woman jurors and emphaticallY
state that they do not approve of the
new system.
"Suppose some of the women ap-
reared in court with young babies,
said one of the matrons. "Those rough
but kind-hearted bailiffs and policemen
are not competent to take care of the
little ones, and it would then be our
duty to take care of the infants, which
would seriously inconvenience US. l
would not like to be the man who sum-
mons persons for jury service, especial
ly if he served papers on women and
caused them to be absent from home
about the time their husbands came
home in a hurry for dinner. There
would be additional cases for the courts
and they would not be petty cases.
either" -,
If 1t comes to the point where 1t will
be necessary to have woman jurors fol-
| the police courts it is probable new
civil service positions will be created
after the wants of the fair Jurors.
Those who are familiar with politics
declare the administration will not au-
thorize the creation of such positions
and it is probable women will be al
lowed freedom from jury service fol
some time.