American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1917-03-22
FIRST WOMAN JURY
WINS MANY COMPLIMENTS
Verdict Rendered Meets Popular Ap-
proval - Curiosity Crowded Court
Room During Trial of the Case.

thompson In commenting upon the
jury OF women selected to try the
civil case of Commons VS.. Hall.
"And the best looking" "the hon
estest," the youngest" chirped in
eleven other prominent citizens who
had more or less reason to hold the
Jury in esteem.
i know there is one member of that
jury" continued Mr.. Thompson, "who
~knows more than | do" and to this
there were eleven prompt same here.
AT least / wouldn't feel," continued
the sage of the Remington, like
maintaining any other view around
home" and there was a chorus of
me too" in perfect unison.
Power county has had her first wo-
man jury, and in spite of the boasteu
superiority of men it is safe to say
that there was as much conscientious
elaboration and much less profanity
In the jury room during consideration
OF the case than on any similar oc-
casion in the history of the county.
And the popular opinion is that the
jury returned a just verdict
When the jury was called Monday
morning the court room was crowded.
All the men who could leave their
business affairs, especially all the gall
liant men, were there, many women
were present in order, possibly to let
his honor, Judge Davis, know that
there was plenty of other good jury
timber in town if a jury could not be
secured from the sixteen women no
titled to appear; the high school chill
dren we're there for the educational ad-
vantages that would accrue; the high
school teachers were there, doubtless,
to see that no errors crept into the
case. The editor of the Press was
there out of curiosity, and because he
felt that the best place to look for
news was where the most people were
to be found.
Prior to calling the jury Judge Da-
Wis explained court procedure for the
benefit of the woman jurors and the
school children, his remarks being
found below. When court convened
at 10 O'Clock sixteen women who had
been summoned to appear for jury
duty were present, as follows: Mrs.
Wilford Bennion, Mrs. w. w. Becksted,
Mrs. r. F. Moth, Mrs. ]. P. Voight,
Mrs ". w. Thompson, Mrs S A For
ter, Mrs. Don Runnion Mrs. S. c.
Winters, Mrs. Bert Blackburn, Mrs. o.
H. Barber, Mrs. M. M. Myers, Mrs.
A. L. Thorne, Mrs. L. d. Atkins, Mrs.
H. A Lang, Mrs. d. w. Davis and Miss
Minerva Kohlhepp. Miss Jessie Tor
rance, deputy clerk, was installed as
clerk of the court, and drew twelve
slips of paper from box, each slip
containing the name of one of the
above sixteen. AS the names were cal
led the ladies took their places in the
following order: Mesdames Myers,
Ehorne, Moth, Atkins, Lang, Thomp-
son, Davis, Barber Forter, Bennion,
Becksted and Winters.
The jury was then questioned by
the attorneys to determine if any of
the number were prejudiced or had
knowledge of the case which would
bar them from service in the case. 1t
developed that not one of them knew
either party to the suit or had ever
heard of the case before coming into
court. The jury was accepted as cal
led and the trial begun.
The case, Sherman Commons VS.. Ell
win Hall, was an action to collect a
note for $50 given to Commons by Hall
for services rendered by Commons in
locating Hall on a homestead
The case was given to the jury about
FIVE o'clock, and the jury placed in
v1a od
been appointed bailiff. The jury or
ganized by selecting Mrs. S. c. Winters
as foreman, and about 1900 o'clock
we're taken to the Remington for din
ner. Returning to the jury room
: about s o'clock verdict was reached
within an hour. the verdict being for
the plaintiff for $50, the face of the
note. and $25 attorneys fees. The re-
marks of Judge Davis relating to court
procedure we're as follows:
Before taking up the trial of the
case a few words of explanation re-
lative to court procedure may be ap-
propriate, especially since school
children are in attendance and We
have a jury of ladies who possibly
NAV not be very familiar with such
matters.
consider it entirely proper for la
dies TO serve as jurors in cases in
volving a question of right. Theil
sense of justice and equity is keen
and they are able to determine tbs
truth as we'll as men. Then, too. i
ladies are to be fully prepared to ad
vocate reforms and good laws, it il
necessary for them to know some
thing about how laws are enforced
and when officers are criticised it il
easier to decide bow to vote for can