New Britain herald., 1925-04-23
Rep. Durant, Fighting For Right of Women To Sit on Juries, Charges One Man Made That State ment.
Lower House of Legisla- ture However, Declines to Pass Woman Jury Bill, Which Is Lost 115 to 60.

State Capitol, Hartford, April 23. The house of representatives this afternoon accepted an adverse report on the bill to give women electors the right to serve on juries, the vote being 115 to accept the report and G0 against.
 Action was preceded by debate of some length in which most of the women members took part, nearly all being for the bill.
 The defense of the judiciary com mittee when the argument was car- ried to it by the women members, who said that MT. Bell of Salisbury had dared" them to speak in favor of the bill, was that women as whole did not want jury service.
 filling Closes Debate
 House Chairman. filling in closing the debate as chairman said that only those who wanted jury service were the women 'who had organiz- ed" He said he spoke flor the un- organized women" He also said that since election last November no one had asked him to support the Jury bill but many had asked him to oppose 1t.
 The committees stand on the bill was explained by MT. Averill who said that "a woman's highest place was In the home" He said that all women had chance to influence some man. or else her husband" He thought the general assembly ought not to ask women to sacrifice their highest duty to the state. The motion of the previous ques- lion to close debate was made by Mrs. Nevlus, and the vote was by members rising.
 Said Women Arc Opposed
 The bill was reported by Mir. Johnson of the Judiciary committee who said that a majority of the con- nittee felt that women did not want jury service and therefore we will not inflict 1t upon them"
 Mrs. Hooker of Hartford said that a woman's viewpoint was needed on juries, and she spoke in behalf of the bill because she honestly be- lteved in 1t" and she also said she apoke in answer to Mir. Bells dare hat there would not be two women m the house who would dare to speak for the bill"
 Champions Women's Cause
 Mrs. Alsop of Avon, said she dared" to speak for the bill asking for it that women might have 100 per cent citizenship" She said most men do not want jury duty. She explained exemptions provided for in the bill.
 Mrs. Nevius of New Fairfield said The reason there had been no oppo- sition at the hearing was because working the home women could not Je present." She said the Chapman trial had convinced her that women should not serve on turies. She said maybe a few would enjoy jury service" but she felt that she would nave a better chance with & male iury. She favored equal rights but did not want to take all rights men lad. She praised the committee for its report
 The Chapman Case
 Mrs. Coe of Waterbury, Mrs. Crawford of Westport, Miss Green of Granby, Miss Weaver of New MiI- ford, Mrs. Fenniman of Naugatuck, Mrs. Townshend of New Haven, Mrs, Ryan of Ridgefeld, MT. Woodford of Pennington, Miss Cheney of Man chester, MT. Durant of Guilford, Mrs, Lewis of Stratford and Mrs. Vinton | of Mansfield each spoke for the bill. Representative Durant said that q < member of the Chapman jury had been quoted as saying, after the rial:
 Hugh Alcorn knew he was guilty or he wouldn't have brought him back"
 The chief argument against thc bill was made by Representative Nverill of Branford for the commit. tee.