“How do you know if you qualify for any job at the courthouse?” George asked.
“I don’t know. You said I’m a bright girl. I’m going to find out if you’re right.”
Chapter 5
First Job
“What can I do for you, young lady?” Mrs. Deacon, the courthouse receptionist, asked as Addie approached her desk.
“I saw the sign for a job and am here to apply for it,” was her reply.
“I’ll have to check to see what job you are talking about. I’ll be a few minutes. Please have a seat over by the window,” she said pointing to the four chairs against the wall.
Presently she returned saying as she approached Addie. “Judge Simpson of the town court needs a recording secretary to make transcripts of the proceedings. How much schooling do you have?”
“I finished the eighth grade,” was her reply.
“What is your name, and how old are you?”
“Addie May Jones, and I’ll be eighteen in two weeks,” she answered.
“Well, you look older than that,” Mrs. Deacon said as she turned back toward the courtroom. “Let me ask the judge if he has a few minutes to see you.” It was true. Addie looked older and was rather plain compared to her sisters, and in this instance, it was to her benefit. In a moment, Mrs. Deacon appeared at the door and motioned for Addie to follow her.
“Judge, this is Addie May Jones. Addie, this is Judge Simpson.”
“Hello and good morning,” he said offering his right hand while at the same time displaying a broad smile.” Mrs. Deacon says you are looking for the job of recording secretary. Do you have any secretarial experience?”
“No, sir,” Addie answered.
“And how much schooling have you had?” the judge asked.
“Eight grades.”
“I don’t know. This is a very demanding job, and I need someone who can write down every word spoken in my courtroom and who says it. This becomes the official record. There cannot be any mistakes.” Addie quickly realized her education wasn’t enough for his requirements but nevertheless spoke boldly.
“I am very good at dictation. We did mock trials in the classroom. My job was to write it all down. Ask Miss Bootson, I made no mistakes.”
“I know her well. In fact we have a meeting this afternoon regarding next school year. Meanwhile, I have just one case on today’s docket that begins in about an hour. Would you like to give it a try?”
“Yes, sir, I would, and thank you.”
“Then follow me,” he said as he turned toward the courtroom. “Come sit here at this table and write down everything you hear and who said it. There is paper and pencils in the drawer.” The case was a simple assault and lasted about fifteen minutes. Dutifully Addie recorded every word.
When the proceeding was over, Addie handed her transcript to the bailiff, then returned to Mrs. Deacon’s desk. “Thank you,” she said.
“Did you hand the transcript to the bailiff?” Mrs. Deacon asked.
“Yes, ma’am,” Addie replied.
“Let me speak to Judge Simpson before you leave,” she said disappearing through the doorway. It was several minutes before she returned. “Judge Simpson says your work is very good, but for him to hire you, you have to be at least eighteen to work in the Town Courthouse. When is your birthday?”
“In two weeks,” Addie answered.
“I’ll tell that to the judge. Come back here tomorrow morning before court opens, say about 9 a.m. This will give the judge and other court officials plenty of time to carefully look over today’s proceedings and discuss your situation. Perhaps we can work out something if everyone agrees. No one else has applied for this job. I believe you have a good chance of getting it.”
Addie was bubbling with excitement as she came into the kitchen where her mother was making bread. “Mom! I think I have a job at the courthouse as a recording secretary for Judge Simpson.”
“Really?” said Florence, “I thought you had to be eighteen to work there.”
“Yes, that’s the rule, but Judge Simpson asked me if I had time to try out for the job by taking dictation for one short case. I did, and he liked how I did it. Mrs. Deacon, his secretary, said since I’ll be eighteen in two weeks, they can work around it. I’ll know tomorrow.”
“I’m so glad for you. Wait till your father hears this. He’ll be surprised.”
Next morning Addie was sitting by the window of the receptionist’s area when Mrs. Deacon arrived for work.
“Good morning, Addie,” she said pleasantly. “I’m guessing the judge is already here with the other officials. He will call for you as soon as he finishes.” Ten minutes later, he came from the courtroom.
“Good morning, Mrs. Deacon, and good morning to you, Addie,” he said smiling, continuing with, “Yesterday afternoon, we had a meeting with the court members. It was agreed since we desperately need a recording secretary and no one else has applied for the job,” he paused, “and Miss Bootson gave a glowing report of your abilities, and since you will be legally eligible to work in two weeks, we are going to make an exception. You have the job. Would you be able to start today? We have a full docket.”
“I would be glad to,” Addie answered.
She had been working for nearly three years with no one questioning her qualifications. Five days a week, she faithfully recorded the proceedings of the town court. Judge Simpson frequently commented, “As tedious as the job was, Addie had made no mistakes.”
One chilly December morning during a trial for the theft of a snow shovel, the prosecutor was grilling a young woman concerning her whereabouts at the time the theft was supposed to have occurred. “Just where were you at five o’ clock in the afternoon on the twenty-third,” he asked.
“I was at my brother’s house helping his wife make a quilt,” the young woman answered.
“Then how is it Mrs. Curtiss saw you remove the snow shovel from her back porch at this same time?” asked the prosecutor.
“I don’t know, maybe it was someone who looks like me,” was her reply.
“Mrs. Curtiss has positively identified the thief as you,” he said as he turned toward the defense attorney. It appears this woman is lying. I believe you should advise her to plead guilty of removing Mrs. Curtiss’s shovel from her residence without her permission.”
“I did not take her shovel,” the woman replied, her voice rising and her face flushed with anger. “Look at her glasses. They must be an inch thick,” her voice continuing to rise, adding, “she couldn’t distinguish me from a bear.”
“Your honor,” the defense attorney said rising as he approached the bench, “my client has a valid point. The court needs to know when Mrs. Curtiss last had a valid eye exam before her testimony be entered into the record.”
“Mrs. Curtiss, how long has it been since you had your glasses checked?” asked the judge.
“Why just a couple of weeks ago,” she answered. “You can check with Dr. Raymond.”
“And were your glasses adjusted at that visit?”
“No, sir,” was her reply, “Dr. Raymond said they didn’t need adjusting.”
“This court is temporarily adjourned till we get a statement from Dr. Raymond,” said the judge as he banged the wooden gavel on his desk.