Letter from Edith Sanderson to Hanna Sheehy Skeffington, 10 November 1915

1 7 Mt Temple Tce
Dalkey Rd Nov 10th Dear Mrs Skeffington I went to the Four Courts this
morning & heard the Seduction
Case Seeds v. Becks. I wish most heartily
I knew more of the ropes— I wonder if
it could be possible for Miss Duggan
to give those anxious to attend Court
a few hints as to legal positions
procedure etc! This Case appeared
very peculiar to my ignorant eyes.
The two Counsel were deep in
conversation when M Staunton & I got into
our seats at five minutes to eleven.
& at five minutes past they were
still discussing the case. I could
catch a word here & there &
I suspected the matter would be
settled out of court however
his Lordship made his appearance 2 (Mr Justice Dodd) to be told he was rather
soon! So he retired. Then the Registrar
who went out with him came &
beckoned to the plaintiff Counsel
who also retired! At last they all
came back. & I heard the plaintiff's
Counsel say "That's all right - I'll
just say ------------- something or
other. The jury was sworn & the
case stated in a few words.
Bech., a young farmer aged 21 had
seduced Lizzie Seeds aged 24 eldest
daughter of — Seeds farmer the seduction
had been denied but that was
withdrawn & the matter for the jury would
simply be a question of damages —
Then the girl a slim delicate looking
creature very "ladylike"! was put in
the witness box. The judge objected
saying ""I understand our purpose
is to save the girl. So she may stand
down. We only want to prove position
etc. Call the father." The father 3 3 an eminently respectable, indeed
fine looking man of superior class
gave evidence as to his daughters age.
Mother delicate family of 6. Eldest
girl practically mistress of the farm.
Baby born March. Girl and child still
living with him & he intended keeping them,
told what he knew
of defendant well to do farmer
aged 21. Nothing more.. JW Justice
Dodd then turned to the jury & said
that in view of the fact that the
boy had withdrawn the denial to
spare the girlhe would simply
ask the jury to award £120.
Remembering that the boy was a minor
& in fact to do so the common sense
plan with the law was always
the best & he thought such a verdict
wld satisfy everyone — this was
agreed to with some question
of waiting 21 days, which I couldn't
understand or follow. But Oh 4 the callousness of the whole affair! of
course the girl had been to blame. It
takes two but she had suffered
more than any man could ever guess
& to have these men laugh &
quote Shakespere's Connection
with Anne Hathaway, talk about
human nature & dismiss that
girl & her baby with a wave of
the hand & the insufficient
sum of £120 made my blood
boil. I overheard two men say talk as
we left court — one said — "Im
glad that case was settled like
that" "Yes" said the other "I hate
these cases"! That was all! That
silly brazen looking boy got off
with a lightened pocket. The
girl has a millstone round
her neck for the rest of her life. 5 My jury once makes it impossible
for me to write anything for
the Citizen but perhaps you
can pick a word or two out
of this that might serve. Friday is the Conference of
reference to Women position
in Industry. They want me to
write an account for your paper 6 6 I wish I had chosen someone
better able but I'll do my best
to send you an idea as to how
things go. With heaps of
apologies for this scrawl. Yrs vy sincerely Edith Sanderson I was at Lady Wrights this afternoon
a "Dublin Union of Women Workers"
is fait accompli, the Vice presidents
were chosen, also provisional
Committee. Miss James of the
U.U.W.W. spoke splendidly. The idea
if Gork if it could be worked —
the Cooperation of all women
workers of all shades of opinions
& aims, I guess the Joint Committee
may lapse! Lady Fryell. Lady
Arnott, Lady Wright. Mrs Haslam &
Mrs White & another are Vice president
Miss R. Barrett. Miss Buchanan. Miss Hayden 7 Mrs etc. etc. are on the
provisional Committee.