The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-05-20
Tinkham VeaIe Breaks Prece-
dent at AlI-Skirt Trial.
Women Sit as Judges in Dis
pute Between Women.
JUDGE CARVER A WITNESS
Mrs. Cooke Says Mrs. Parr
Called Her a "SkiWash."
Women Spectators Nurse Ba-
bies as Trial Proceeds.

Six Topeka women are sitting as
judges of their own sex involving a g.
year-old neighborhood quarrel be-
tween Mrs. Minnie Parr, who lives on
the West Six i street road. and Mrs.
Edith Cook, a ncighbor. The case is
being tried in the court of Topeka be-
fore Judge Rad NJ, Lee. 1t is the first
time in Topeka's history that Jury
has been composed exclusively of de
scendants Of the tempter of Adam.
The first attempt of the 100 per
cent petticoat scXtette to agree on
subject failed. That was concerning
the clothes they were to wear. Five
appeared in tailored suits. hats ana
gloves. wearing all three of the articles
all the time. The sixth baked and APP
pcared in the jury box minus "A hat
and gloves and CARRIED in waist and
q skirt. Whether the women will fail
in a unanimous decision relative to
Mrs. PARIS guilt or innocence as they
did on their mode of dressing is prob
lematicaL
The court room was crowded with
women who never missed a word.
Mothers nursed their babies right IN
the court room. Never had such a
unique affair graccd the musty, smelly
court room which for the first time
bore a distinctive talcum powder
scent.
NcaIc Sat Near jury.
The aII-woman jury. Il precedent
breaker in itself brought about the
breaking of another precedent. At
torncys always sit in front of their
clients. But for two hours this morn
ing Tlnkham> Neale, assistant county
attorney deserted the side of his
client and esta blished himself on the
raised platform beside the petticoated
jury.
Mrs Cooke. who is bringing charges
of disturbing the peace against Mrs.
Parr, claims that for several years
Mrs. Parr has shouted foul implica-
tons at her, calling her a chicken
chief and still worse fighting
phrases. The climax was reached on
Easter morning when it is claimed
that Mrs Cooke and h. X. Jones, the
roomer in the Cooke house, were
picking greens on the Parr parking
ing for at the time the other two were
getting green's
she called me an old Slziwash.' -
Mrs. Cooke told the jury. "She called
rae dirty Skiwash. she called me a
chicken thief, she called me d sod
buster (Mrs. Cooke weighs probably
1I5 pounds) and dared me to have
Tier arrested. She told me to &c
ahead now that I had MI. Cooke as a
witness. that she didn't know who he
was, hut he wasn't a gentleman or he
wouldn't he with me-
Broke Down Fence. She Says.
Mrs Parr claims TINT Mrs Cooke
persisted in walking on her parking
ahd once broke down a hedge fence.
She informed the jury she didn't feel
Mrs. Cooke was her equal and estab-
lished the alleged inequality by force
fully impressing upon the seXtette of
women that:
Il didn't call Mrs. Cooke a ski
wash. | called her a silva sh."
Then testimony was introduced by
sd Rooney, attorney for Mrs Parr
that Mrs Cooke had been found in a
room in a disorderly house with &. Il
jones, the Toomcr in the Cooke house
Gross examination revealed that wher
the sheriff raided tho house on E,ast
Sixth street and found Mrs. Cooke
. and Jones there that Mr., Cooke was
downstairs. This testimony was giver
l% Sheriff Hugh Iarimer.
Judge Robert D. Carver was called
70 the stand. He testified that he hat
known OF Mrs. PARIS troubles fol
years while county attorney and vol.
Imtcercd the information that he he
lieved some of the neighbors took de
light in pla guing Mrs. Parr. whom he
described as a nervous, high strunf
woman, passing thru a crucial periot
in womans life.
Judge Takes the Stand.
"She IS a good woman" said Judge
Carver. and if they would try to ge