The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1875-11-17
A COLORADO COURT.
The Administration of Justice
in Blue Lizard Gulch.
Rocky Mountain News.

in Blue Lizard Gulch.
Rocky Mountain News.
Jim Barker, a well-known charac-
ter of the mountains, whose latch
strings hangs out at the head of Blue
Lizzard Guich. was duly elected a
Justice of the Peace for that section
of FL Paso county. at the September
election, and Mike Irving, com
rade of Jim's. was empowered as the
executive officer of his court. Last
week Jim convened his first court, to
hear the complaint of Elder Slater,
travelling missionary, who had caus-
ed the arrest of Zimri Bowles, a res
dent of the foothills, upon a charge
of stealing the elders one-eyed mnle.
Zimri had been arrested by Irving,
the constable, while in the act of
causing the descent the mule down
Mad Gun mountain, with his lariat
fastened to the tail of the animal.
The proof against Zimri was conclu-
sive. Accordingly, the justice, after
much legal perplexity of mind, pro-
ceeded to sentence Zimri to one
years confinement in the territorial
penitentiary. which sentence he con-
cluded as follows: "An' now, Zim,
seein' as | am about out of things to
eat, an as you will hare the cost to
pay, reckon you d better take a
turn among the foothills with your
rife, an see ifyou can't pick up some
meat before night, as you can't start
for the Big Canon before mornin'."
Which marketing duty was perform
ed by Zim's bringing in one black
tail fawn and a rabbit within the
time prescribed as a postscript to
the sentence. On the following morn.
ing the constable, mounted upon his
broLcho, accompanied by the prison
er, astride of the mule, which the ell
der had kindly loaned him. started
through the mountains for the peni-
tentiary. where they arrived the Sec
ond day out, their animals loaded
with a deer. two antelopes. and a
small cinnamon bear, which they sold
to the warden of the prison. After
dividing the money, the constable
proceeded to hand over Zimri on the
following mittimus, which is care
fully preserved, and may he seen in
the possession of the warden:
ITO the he'll man of the Colorado
prison, down at the foot of the Big
Canyon on the Arkansas. Take
Motifs - Zimri Bouls, who comes
with this here. Stole Elder SIater's
one-eyed mule, an it was all the mule
the Elder had an / sentenced Zim
officially to one year in the Colorado
prison, an hated to do it. seein' as
Zim once stood by me like a man
when the Injuns had me in tight
place, an arter | sentenced Zim to
one year for stealin' the Elders mule.
my wife. Lizzy, who is kind o ten
der hearted critter, come an leaned
har arm on my shoulder an says she.
Father. don't forget the time when
Zim, with his rifle, covered our cabin
from Granite Mountain. an saved
rs from the Arapahoes, an Father
| have heard you tell that after you
was wounded at Sand Creek, and
helpless. it was Zim's rifle that halt
ed the Injun that was creeping in
the grass to scalp yOu.' An then
there was tear splash fell on the
sentence and | changed my mind
sudentiy. as follows: seein' as the
mule had but one eye. and wern't t
morn half a mule at that, you can
/ let Zim 90 at about six months, an
sooner if the Injuns shud get ugly,
| an furthermore, if the Elder shud
quiet down an give in any times, /
will pardon Zim out instanter.
Witness my official hand and seal,
JAMES BARKER. j. p.
in Blue Lizard Gnlch, Ell Paso
county, in the territory
The warden, after informing the
constable that he could not receive
the prisoner upon the commitment
offered. proceeded to explain that he
should have given bond in the sum
of of about three hundred dollars to
| appear at the district court. Accord
ingly, the constable withdrew with
his prisoner, when it was agreed be-
tween them that Zimri should give
the constable his bond for the
amount mentioned by the warden
This was accomplished by Zim sub
scribing his name to an old repsevir
bond calling for three hundred dol
lars. found among the papers trans
mitted to the constable by his pre-
decessor. Then, as the constable in
tended returning by way of Pinor
mountain, to examine a bear der
where he had seen a couple of cubs
playing last spring. he gave the
bond to Zimri to take back to the
justice. But Zimri, while on his re
turn. traded the three hundred dol
lar bond TO a mountain squatter jus
in from Missouri. for horse, saddle
and hridle, and the prisoner is be
lie Jed to be, at this time, dashins
hunter on the plains.