and intelligent gentlewomen swore positively that they could
recognize their jewels. They drew the inference merely that
as the prisoner had stolen similar jewels from them these must
be the actual ones which they had lost, an inference very
likely correct, but valueless in a tribunal of justice.

Where their inferences are questioned, women, as a rule, are
much more ready to "swear their testimony through" than men.
They are so accustomed to act upon inference that, finding
themselves unable to substantiate their assertion by any
sufficient reason, they become irritated, "show fight," and
seek refuge in prevarication. Had they not, during their
entire lives, been accustomed to mental short-cuts, they would
be spared the humiliation of seeing their evidence "stricken
from the record."

One of the ladies referred to testified as follows:

"Can you identify that diamond?"

"I am quite sure that it is mine:"

"How do you know?"

"It looks exactly like it."

"But may it not be a similar one and not your own?"

"No; it is mine."