ter
you from the exercise of those rights with which the law has
invested you. I conclude with the remark that this is a
question for you to decide for yourselves. No man has any
right to interfere. It seems to me to be eminently proper
for women to sit upon grand juries, which will give them the
best possible opportunities to aid in suppressing the dens
of infamy which curse the country. I shall be glad of your
assistance in the accomplishment of this object. I do not
make these remarks from distrust of any of the gentlemen. On
the contrary, I am exceedingly pleased and gratified with
the indication of intelligence, love of law and good order,
and the gentlemanly deportment which I see manifested here.

The ladies were then told that those who could not conveniently
serve, and those who insisted on being excused, might rise and
they should be discharged. Only one rose and she was excused. But
a victory had been won of no small moment. Seeing the earnestness
of the judges and the dignified character they had given to the
affair, the women were encouraged and pleased, and the enemies of
equal rights, who had planned, as they thought, a stunning blow
to further progress, were silenced and defeated. The current set
rapidly in the other direction and applause, as usual, followed
success. The business of the court proceeded with marked
improvement. The court-room, always crowded, was quiet and
decorous in the extreme. The bar in particular was always on its
good behavior, and wrangling, abuse and buncome speeches were
not heard. When men moved about they walked quietly, on tip-toe,
so as to make no noise, and forbore to whisper or make any
demonstrations in or around the court-room. The women when called
took their chairs in the jury-box with the men, as they do their
seats in church,[494] and no annoyance or reluctance was visible
from the bench. They gave close and intelligent attention to the
details of every case, and the men who sat with them evidently
acted with more conscientious care than usual. The verdicts were
generally satisfactory, except to convicted criminals. They did
not convict every one they tried, but "no guilty man escaped," if
there was sufficient evidence to hold him