Anthony, Susan B.

The November 28, 1872 knock on the door didn't come just for Susan. It also came for her sister and for the registrars. Susan had threatened the voting officials with a lawsuit if they turned her away. By giving in, the officials thought they had avoided legal confrontation. Instead, they bought themselves a criminal case.

Trial was set for May 13, 1873. Susan wasted no time in telling her story. Before the trial date she gave speeches everywhere in an effort to put the issue before as many people as possible. Here are some excerpts.

...[I]t is a downright mockery to talk to women of their enjoyment of the blessings of liberty while they are denied the use of the only means of securing them provided by this democratic-republican government - the ballot...To them this government has no just powers derived from the consent of the governed.

and

...[T]his oligarchy of sex...makes father, brothers, husband, sons, the oligarchs over the mother and sisters, the wife and daughters, of every household - which ordains all men sovereigns, all women subjects, carries dissension, discord, and rebellion into every home of the nation.

Because the prosecuting attorney believed Susan had prejudiced potential jurors, the trial was rescheduled and moved. It was set to commence on June 17, 1873 in Canandaigua, in Ontario County New York.

Susan Anthony probably believed she had already faced the worst her government could do to her. She had no idea how bad things would get.