Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1914-07-20
TheEvenine Story
The Twelfth
Jurywco man
By DWIGHT NoRNR WOOD

umphed in 1925 they not only gained
the franchise, but laws were passed
imposing upon them the same duties
as men. They were drawn as jurywo-
men and were eligible to sit on the
bench Different experinl ents in jury
duty were tried. one Of which was the
making mp of jury of mixed men
and women.
The case Of Grace Fleming against
Francis lddleston for breach of prom
Use attracted universal attention. The
law as 1t stood at the time required
that all cases of breach of promise
should be tried before a jury of I'M
married persons. six being males and
six females. There being greut rush
for admittance to hear the piquant
evidence that 1t was EXPECTED would
be brought out. a number Of young
men and women strove 10 be impan-
eled on the jury. The re suit was six
young men and six young women were
drawn and accepted, all of whom
were OF the better class. and the
young women were all good looking.
1t was proved concluslvely on the
trial that Iddleston had proposed to
Miss Fleming and that she had accept
ed him. but the defendants counsel
brought in evidence to show that she
had been engaged to another man at
the same time. The judge charged
that II the jury were satisfied that the
defendant had proposed TO the plain
til they were to return verdict in
her favor But IL they we're satisfied
that the plaintiff had engaged herself
to another man while she was engag
ed to Iddleston they were to find for
the defendant.
One Of the Jurymen gave an account
of the proceedings In the jury room
while verdict was being considered.
of which the following is b synopsis:
ION reaching the jury room we ar
ranged ourselves in a circle, men and
women being placed alternately, and
proceeded to consider the case. At first
there were remarks from men and wo-
men alike. but gradually the men drop
ped out of the discussion, leaving 1t to
the women Two women considered
Iddleston's offer binding bn him; two
women considered that he was absolv-
ed by Miss Flemlng's being engaged to
another man, while the oth Ter two jury
women took the ground thht Mr.. Iddle-
ston had been treated very badly by
the plaintiff.
"The discussion on the part Of the
jurywomen lasted so long that some
of us began to yawn. First one wom-
an, then another dropped put Of 1t I'M
til but one woman remained to combat
for her opinion. Then one of the wo-
men asked another II she had seen the
new skirt This switched the CONVEX
sation on to another track than the
case In question. and in few minutes
the women were debating the fashions.
Seeing an opportunity, we men began
to consider the breach of promise case,
We discovered that we all agreed that
the woman, having been engaged to
another during the time she was en-
gagged to IddIeston, had no claim.
I'VE announced to our fellow jury
women that half of the jury were
agreed on a verdict, requesting the
other half to follow our example. They
at once turned their attention to the
matter In point. but as there were
three different opinions among them
and each woman stoutly maintained
her own view time passed without a
verdict. At u o'clock in the evening
supper was brought in, and after that
> since the women could not agree and
/ were tired Of the subject, we paired
l of. each man with a woman. and sal
. flirting till 10 o'clock. when we were
] marched off to separate hotels for the
night.
The next day a messenger went
! from US with note to the Judge. who
supposing It to contain a question OF
law, called the court together. Hi:
, honor was much astonished at re
1 quest for a clergyman. Since there
f was no reason for denying the reques
n dominic was sent to us. and two o.
K our number were married.
There is something contagious abou
matrimony. and as the parson Wal
leaving he was called back to MARY
another couple. That afternoon on
( of the men who had been making NJ
s to another OF the jurywomen pro
8 posed that we make 1t unanimous ant
s all be married. This was rushing mat
. ters. and the only woma left I'm
u pledged declined to take the only re
: naming unpedged man. While w
were trying TO persuade her the judg
sent TO know il we had reached yer
= dict The foreman sent back wOr'
I that we Ind cnse of an obstinnt
" twelfth jnrywoman, but we hope
e soon TO bring her TO an agreement
s; "Hnlf an hour later we all hled int
5. the courtroom and were asked I'll
). usual question:
Have you agreed to a verdict?
I'VE have agreed to something else
replied our foreman.
= "'What do you meanr asked tn
. Judge. surprised.
.Wa-. K,n.w a