The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-11-07
WOMAN JUDGE
JAILS OFFICER
FOR CONTEMPT
Socialist Suffraget Keeps City
Marshal in Lookup for
Eight Hours
NOW HE is SUING
FOR $4,000 DAMAGES
I'm Going to Stick" Says Miss
Clara Jess, of DAILY City,
California

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 7.-Clari
Alice Jess, young and unmarried. Il
the first woman to hold a position o
Judge In any city In the Unitec
States.
Miss Jess isn't a lawyer; she hal
never passed an examination, but de
spite this lack of knowledge OF Iega
technicalities, she's some Judge, ant
anyone who doubts this statement
has only TO talk for while with som,
OF those who have been tangled up II
DAILY city's police court.
DAILY City Is a suburb OF San Fran
cisco. 1t isn't aristocratic and mos
OF Its residents work with their hand:
for q living, and work hard. DAILY
City Is ruled by Socialists Sis
months ago, after her defeat for the
once OF treasurer, the trustees ap
pointed Miss Jess recorder, which
position Is the same In DAILY City Al
that OF police Judge In larger town
The first few sessions of Miss Jess
court were stormy. and the more
Miss Jess did to quiet the storm the
harder 1t blew. The men didn't take
kindly to woman Judge, especially
the marshal OF the court. The mar
shall wanted to be prosecuting attor
ney. Miss Jess wouldn't let him. The
marshal was a bachelor and a woman
hater combined. One day Miss Jess
told him to serve a warrant. He re
fused.
You'll either serve it, pay a fine
OF $50. or else 60 to Jail for contempt
Of court" Numbered the young wo
man. The marshal laughed and then
scowled at a deputy marshal whom
Miss Jess ordered to arrest him. The
deputy glanced at his six-foot-two
chief and then suddenly resigned
Miss Jess located an Irish deputy
who made up In nerve what he lack
ed Drawn.
Are you going to pay that $50
fneg Miss Jess asked the marshafi.
am not" replied the officer.
Take him to jail then and keep
him there fore one day." replied Miss
Jess, and the Irishman took him to a
nice little cell where he eeeied his
heels for eight hours and then en-
tered suit against the young Judges
Ito coin a word for $25, 900 for false
Imprisonment The suit Is still pend
ing.
It's funny at times, but there is
lots OF tragedy running through the
humor of a justice court" says Judge
Clara Jess. Sometimes the people
don't take the court seriously; some
times lawyers insist on calling me
madam, instead OF Your Honor but
I guess woman pioneer must stand
lot OF things"
Miss Jess doesn't believe in legal
technicalities; she believes In getting
ar the truth OF the matter to be de-
lided and then giving her verdict.
she's a Socialist and a suffraget.
Those who say politics will lower
women forget that the greatest thing
In the world Is honest government;
pots and pans lower q woman, not an
interest In how their country shall be
governed Is Miss Jess answer to
those who oppose suffrage, claiming
II will lower woman.
II don't think would send a man
to prison for life" answered Miss
Jess. 1T seems awful to think of
shutting anyone up for years, or OF
sentencing to dtath, but I guess II the
crime were great enough | could do
that, too
With the men opposing her and her
court; with most everyone smiling at
a woman on the bench, Miss eJss has
had a hard time Of II unfolding the
dignity OF the recorders Office of DAILY
City, but the example OF the town
marshall who went to jail had a quiet
ing effect upon those who laughed at
her
"T'll stick to it." declares Miss Jess,
'and maybe some day I'll be real
judge. l think We ought to have wo-
men on the bench. They would do
a real work
'In conclusion want to say that
never will women make greater
mess OF politics and government than
have men,"
And Miss Jess prepared to hear the
case OF a. man who was accured OF as
sault, blackening another mans eye
during a heated argument over pol
itics. DAILY City Is strong for politics.
IT'S the daily tonic OF conversation.