The Washington times., 1922-03-26


Mrs. Mae Reading. mother of four
children, the Oldest of whom is six
teen, was pleased with her expert
ence as a juror in the case. She
remarked that none of the men
even took off his coat or shoes.
took particular notice to that fact"
Mrs. Nettie Robertson said:
None of the women slept a wink
The men didn't sleep, either. Some
of the women wouldn't let them
sleep. When we saw that they were
about to fall asleep we rubbed their
faces with fur. That kept them
awake.
Some of us played cards for a
little while. As a general thing.
however, the men grouped together
and the women grouped together"
All Of the six women were mar
ried. one of them a widow. and all
of them have children except the
widow, Mrs. Julie Baird
Mrs. Reading had the unique ex-
perience of quitting the jury work
Monday and being called to similar
duty two days later. OF this stu
alton, she said:
Il have a trustworthy maid and
she took care of the children while
was on the jury. My husband
was satisfied because he considers
II Is my duty as voter to sit on
the jury. l am interested in poll
tics. / think that women should
serve on turies and on the kind of
cases that we had as well as on
less unpleasant cases. Nobody
could sleep much that night be-
cause the charge against the man
was so serious. 1t is a serious
thing when you are called upon to
decide whether a man shall go TO
prison."
Mrs. Reading was indignant when
informed some jurors had said they
all took maps. But Mrs Bessie !
Hack testified:
I'VE played cards. read the news. /
papers. and when we became weary
we pulled cushions from the arm !
chairs and took maps on the floor" /!
On the other hand, David w. !
Phillips insisted there was no play- !
ng Of cards. /
Woman Prosecutors Views. Il
This is the view of Miss Helen ,
?. Mccormick, an assistant district .
attorney, in Brooklyn. who has |
lone notable work in her office:
I'VE have an example in the |
lone Of the combined opinion of |
nan and woman, and there is no
eason why that combined opinion
hould not be as successful in the
ury box.
The mixed system will not revo.
utionize methods OF dealing out ius.
ice. 1t merely adds to the minds
" men the minds of women. 1t is
lot matter of sex, but of mind and
/ do not see, despite
he recent disagreements in prom.
nent cases, why the system should
'e branded, a failure. II should have Z
urther opportunity to function be-
ore final judgment is passed"
Miss Pauline o. Field, an assistant
district attorney in New York
county said:
Il think the mixed jury system
a good institution. but I believe
nat women should not be compelled
serve. III they are voters and wish
o serve they should have the oppor-
unity. But because of her house.
lold duties and the care of her chill
rem woman should not be placed
lnder compulsion.
Though there are embarrass.
nents due to the locking up of men
nd women together. that is a situa.
ion that can be easily remedied.
feanwhile, the system has been i'm
peration only a short while and IL
J unjust to condemn it because. as
hight have happened had the juries
cen composed of men only a few
lries of men and women have
vrangled for hours and have failed
D agree"
District Attorney Joab II. Banton,
Z New York county, made this com.
tent: .
Mixed juries are now in an ex. s
erimental stage. No one cam
rophesy the outcome. The service I
citizen as a juror is one of the
ardships of citizenship and yet a 7
eCessary service to tho cotIntrN .