Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1875-11-12
How the Law Was Administered by a
Colorado Justice.


Jim Barker, a well-known character of
the mountains, whose latch string hangs
out at the head of Blue Lizard gulch,
was duly elected Justice of the Peace tor
that section Of lei Paso County at the Sep
tember election, and Mike Irving, a COM
rade of Jim's, was empowered as the exec
utive officer of his court. Last week Jim
convened his first court, 10 hear the com
plant of Elder Slater, travelling mission
ary, who had caused the arrest of Zimri
Bowles, a resident of the foothills, upon
a charge of stealing the Elders one-eyed
mule. Zimri had been arrested by Irving,
the Constable, while in the act of easing
the descent of the mule down Msd Gun
Mountain, with his lariat fastened TO the
tail of the animal. The proof against
Zimri was conclusive. Accordingly the
Justice, after much legal perpleXity of
mind, proceeded to sentence Zimri TO one
years confinement in the Territorial Pen
itentiary, which sentence he concluded as
follows: "An' now, Zim, secin' as I'm
about out of things to eat, an as you Will
have the cost to pay, | reckon you'd better
take turn among the foothills with your
rifle an see if you can't pick up some
meat before night, as you can't start for
the Big Canon before mOrnin'." Which
marketing duty was performed by Zim
bringing in ono blacktail fawn and u rab-
bit within the time prescribed as n post
script 10 the sentence. On the following
morning the Constable mounted upon his
broncho, accompanied by the prisoner
astride of the mule which the Elder had
kindly loaned him, started through the
mountains tor the Pcnitentiary where
they arrived the second day out, their
animals loaded with deer, two antelope,
and small cinnamon bear, which they
sold to the Warden of the Prison. Afler
dividing the money the Constable pro-
ceedcd to hand over Zimri on the follow
ing mittimus, which is carefully preserved
and may be seen in the possession of the
Warden
To the he'd man OF the Colorado prison,
down ut the foot Of the Big Canyon on the
Arkansus-Take Notice: Zimri Bouls, who
comes with this here, Stole Elder Slater's
onc-eycd mule, an IL was all the mule the
Elder had, and sentenced Zim officially to
ono year in the Colorado prison, and hated
TO do 1t, secin as Zim once stood by me like
a man when the lnjuns had me in tight
place, an artcr sentenced Zlm to one year
for stealing the Elders mule, my wife, Liz
zy. who is a kind o. tender hearted critter,
come and leaned her arm ON my shoulder
an says she: Father, don't forget the time
when Zm, with his rifle, covered our cabin
from Granite Mountain, an saved us from
the ArapahOes, an, father, have heard you
tell that after you was wounded at SAID
Creek, an helpless, it was Iimris rifle that
halted the Indian that was creeping in the
grass to scalp you.p An then there was a
tear splash fell upon the sentence and l
changed my mind suddenly, as follows: see
ing as the mule had but one eye, an wernt
morn half mule at that, YOU can let Zim
go at about six months, an sooner If the In
iuns shud get ugly, an, Furthermore, II the
Elder shud quiet down an give in any times,
win pardon Zim out instanter,
Witness my official hand and seal,
JAMES BARKER, j, p,
in Dlue I.zzard Gulch, El Paso County, in fhc
Territory
The Warden, after informing the Con.
stable that he could not receive thepris-
oner upon the commitment offered, pro-
ceeded to explain that he should have
given bond in the sum Of about $500
10 appear at the District Court. Accord
ingly, the Constable withdrew with his
prisoner, when it was agreed between
them that Zimr should give the Constable
his bond for the amount mentioned by
the Warden. This was accomplished by
Zimri subscribing his name to an old re-
plevin bond calling for $500, found
among the papers transmitted to the Con-
stable by his predecessor. Then, as the
Constable intended returning by way of
Pinon Mountain, to examine bear den
where he had seen couple of cubs play
ing last spring, he gave the bond TO Zimri
TO take back TO the Justice. But Zimri,
while on his return, traded the $500 bond
to mountain squatter, just in from Mis-
souri,, for horse, saddle and bride, and
the prisoner is believed to be, at this time,
a dashing hunter on the plalns,--ROcky
Mountain NerS.