now be thought of the policy of admitting women
to the right of suffrage and to hold office, they will have
a fair opportunity, at least in my Court, to demonstrate
their ability in this new field, and prove the policy or
impolicy of occupying it. Of their right to try it I have no
doubt. I hope they will succeed, and the Court will
certainly aid them in all lawful and proper ways. Very
respectfully,

J. H. HOWE, _Chief-Justice_.

When the time came to hold the court, Judge Howe, whose duty it
was to preside, requested me to go with him to Laramie City, and
sit with him during the term. I gladly availed myself of the
opportunity. As soon as we arrived there, Judge Howe was waited
on by a number of gentlemen who endeavored to induce him to order
the discharge of the female jurors without calling them into
court. Some spoke of the impolicy of the proceeding, and said the
women all objected to it and wished to be excused; while some
were cross, and demanded the discharge of their wives, saying
that it was an intentional insult and they would not submit to
it. But Judge Howe told them all firmly, that the women must come
into court, and if, after the whole question was fairly explained
to them, they chose to decline, they should be excused. At the
opening of the court next morning, the house was crowded, and the
female jurors were all there. After the usual preliminaries, an
attorney arose and moved that all the women summoned as jurors be
excused, saying he made the motion at the request of the women
themselves; and that he was assured they did not wish to serve.
Judge Howe then requested me to express my opinion and make some
remarks to the women on the duties devolving on them. I said:

It was a real pleasure to me to see ladies in the
court-room, with the right to take a responsible part in the
proceedings, as grand and petit jurors; that no one knew so
well as they did, the evils our community suffered from
lawless and wicked people; and no one better understood the
difficulties the court labored under in its efforts to
administer justice and punish crime; that the time had come
when the good women of the territory could give us