The Women of Washington Take Their Seats on the Jury

Jury duty is not pleasant to merchants, capitalists, mechanics, editors, and other men of business. It is repugnant to them, and is avoided on every possible occasion. The conclusions are purely personal, practically all do, and are not often heeded. Of all men, they are the least jurors. But the objection of assessment will hold good with women. They do not want to serve any more than men of business do, and they make jurors of the first character. They will never be found making any John, and if called will generally serve, not of passion but of profit, and if duty is one, will be conscientious. Men selected for juries have all kinds of objections, presumably as businessmen do, but in truth many of them have served and will want to dodge when not personally interested. That they will do in the law and justice cannot be doubted. A loud howl has gone up from the opponents of the innovation. One of this kind fortunately called forth the publication of the communication following. We may add that the experience of the women of Tacoma, as told by themselves, has been that of the women of Seattle and other places where mixed juries have been tried: 'Tacoma, W.T., July 1, 1884. Editor New Northwest: The following assertion appeared in the Walla Walla Union of June 21st: 'Jury duty has been found exceedingly disagreeable and irksome by the women of Puget Sound.' We, the jurors of the last term of court for Pierce County, held at Tacoma, wish to contradict the statement, as far as we are concerned. We found our duties neither irksome nor disagreeable, but rather the contrary. Some of us would have been engaged for the best of reasons, had we sought such privilege. The petit jury was fourteen hours in deliberation on one case, and twenty-four hours on another; and there were more complaints from the men than from the women. We served cheerfully and willingly, and are ready, should a similar call be made upon us, to do so again. Mrs. Frances Barlow, Mrs. Janet E. Fuller, Mrs. D. E. Lester, Mrs. Elizabeth Munroe, Mrs. Eliza J. Ross, Mrs. M. J. Gilliber, Grand Jurors. Mrs. L. H. Gosnell, Mrs. S. O. Fay, Mrs. A. J. Flagg, Mrs. J. A. Westover, Mrs. E. C. Bradish Mann, Petit Jurors.'