WOMEN WITNESSES

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 36, 6 November 1920, Page 7

WOMEN WITNESSES

—* From a long and close observation of i men and women as witnesses I have . ('ome to the-conclusion that in thotelltujr oi stones not founded 011 fact' women are far more unscrupulous, imaginative, and successful than, men, writes n hamster in the London "Daily Mail." iiiere is Uie type of woman who will tell ner h.b in a musical voice and with n Madonna-like serenity, and will add a wealth ot corroborative detail which in si man (if ho could achieve it) would alfnatio™ y Pr ° Ve fatal in cross - e »in. „• 6 cr "«l and nearly succwsful piece of false witness which I have ever heard was uttered by a little girl ,in short frocks at the Old Bailey, whore a «r o WK K iT n 7i n:f H nV i nrds ve ry Properly debcribed by the Judge as a "knight errant was charged with her abduction, i'or hours the little wonder told her story with an air of innocent candour, and submitted to cross-examination, pitied by Judge and jtiry, and damning the unfortunate young man with every word. Not until late in the trial did it appear that her story was a tissue of falsehoods. ■ irom to-day," said a learned I 'friend « mine afterwards, "I am in favour of

women at the Bar Only * woman lady " ndequately with that little And women are extraordinary quick to take n useful lunt. On circuit some t)> entry years ago a woman was 011 trial lor bigamy. Tile parties lived all their lves in a small country town, and tlio husband swore lie saw the prisoner fre"You know," said the Judge, 11 you saw your husband even once iu the seven years before the bigamous marriage you will be found guilty," "Thank you, my Lord," quoth she. "I did not know that, and Went into the witne*;. box where she swore she had seen her hfisbaiid three times only: On the Good j'i'Klay, Luster Sunday, and Christmas Vi, 1 c ' l F htll y«'i' before. Silo save lull .details, and was acquitted. J here are other weapons in woman's armoury AY'heii skill has failed her Mie will plead fatigue and confusion, and prove it by bursting into tears or .ming on into a l'aint. Many years ago a barrister had to examine a lady who had been left executor and cole legatee of her husband's I estate, amounting to .CIO,OOO. There was | an outstanding judgment of .£3OO against , the estate, and the creditors could find I nothing. j . Ordered [0 come into court with all i" books and papers l'ur examination, she j fluiy appeared, a frail little ladv in widows weeds, with nothing in her' hand but ar. umbrella. Books She knew imlhujK about them. There was Min the 1 .0. Savings Hank, and that was' •ill she had 111 the world. She then PKietedeif to give an account of how that money had been spent iu six months. Iler story was full of contradictions, nlie never had any money in the bank. ■ .ater it. appeared she had JSIOOO in the bank three days before. What had happened lo it "To tell vou the truth J gave it nil away to my poor old aunt! I know it was foolish, but (hat's the sort of person I am." Thereupon, she broke down completely, and during tile remainder of the sitting we were engaged in applying restoratives.