Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-07-19
THE POLYGLOT COURT.-A MIXED
CASE

NAHhsa
A Santa Fe correspondent Of the Cincin-
matt Commercial gives the following account
Of a trial at law in that place:
Al the March term, 1866, Of the District
Court of San Miguel county, Territory Of
New Mexico, az the town of Las Vegas, a
case Of burglary was tried by an American
court. composed Of the following divers ele-
ments Of race, speech Snd religion. The de-
fendant, a Young lad about sixteen, was born
Of American parents, and was slightly Prot
cstanL The court clerk, counsel for defense,
and Interpreters, were all American born,
and either Catholic or Protestant. The pros
ecuting attorney, the witnesses and jury,
were all Catholics and respectively Prus-
sian French, or Mexican born. The court,
clerk and defendant spoke English only.
The prosecuting witness spoke French only,
and the Jury did not understand any lang
uage but Spanish. The deputy clerk (also
interpreterl, as well az all the counsel for
defense, spoke only Spanish and English.
The second Interpreter spoke French, Span
isli and English and the prosecuting attor-
ney French, Spanish, English and German.
In this criminal case the Court must un-
dertand each iuteTrogatory before II is pro-
pounded, aud the response must be under
stood by the Court and by the jary, each in
their own tongue. Now il must be known,
that neither the Court nor the prosecuting
witnesses nor the jury understand each
other.
The jury are sworn in Spanish, with the
uplifed hand, the thumb and forehnger
forming the sign Of the cross, by the Deputy
Clerk lalso Interpreter.)
The Second Interpreter is sworn for this
l.. - fl..1- .., Lvsr1feh aud tho
prosecuting witnesses by the Clerk, who is
aided by the Second Interpreter, in French.
The panel Of the jury is quickly formed
by the bar, and Court, aud Deputy Clerk.
Each interrogatory is given 20 the Court
in English, and the Second Interpreter pro
pounds the questions TO thewimesses Of the
French persuasion, and their responses to
the Court in English. The First Inter
prefer now gives the response TO the Jury in
Spanish; and 40 on until we come 90 the adj
dresses % the jury.
Here. the Court relying upon the vigi-
lance and candor Of the bar, permits without
interpretation land the defendant not under
standing word of) the ypeeches of counsel
and prosecution TO The jury.
The charge 30 the jury is now given by
clause and sentence from the Judge te the
jury. and they retire leaving the poor devil
at the bar 20 wait awhile longer, until the
verdict by polling is translated "Coa Cdpd
into Guilty"
And as Il 10 wind up this mixed day in
Court, an Hebrew from SaXony, citizen OF
Mexico, each Gle, one his naturalization,
she other his declaration to become a citizen
Of the United States. The Prosecuting At
torney gives the oath Of allegiance to the
German, and the Deputy Clerk swears tie
citizen of Mexico in Spanish; and thereupou
thc whole Court takes the oath, with a pee
of lemon, on adiourning.
80. from the marshes Of AIilcreek TO th,
Pacific, from the Soioptic tothe Atlantic and
the Rhine, from Las Vegas TO Cologne came
Court 10 sit between two oceans, in thu
Rocky Mountains ins-emblematic of the com
ing day when these ere United States shall
meic out Justice q an The sons Of men.