New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-11-07

jim Barker's Court.
Jim Barker, we'll known character of
the mountains, Whose latch 1T ing hangs out
at the head of Blue Lizard Gulch, was
duly elected a Justice OF the peace for that
section Of Ell PasO county, at the September
election, and Mike Irving, comrade of
Jim's, was empowered to otficiate as the
executive officer of his court. Last week
Jim convened his first court, to hear the
complaint of Elder Slater, a travelling mis-
sionary, who had caused the arrest of Zimri
Bowles, a resident of the foot hills, upon q
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 Mad Gun noun
tain, with his lariat fastened to the tail of
the animal. The proof against Zmri was
much legal perplexity OF mind, proceeded to
sentence Zimri to one Years confinement in
the Territorial Penitentiary, which sen
tence he concluded as follows: "An'
now, Zim, seem as I'm about out
OF things to eat, an as you will have the
cost to pay, l reckon you'd better take a
turn among the foothills with your rifle,
an see il you can't pick up some meat be.
fore night, as you can't start for the Big
ing duty was performed by Zim bringing
in one black tail fawn and q rabbit within
the time prescribed IS a postscript to the
sentence. On the following morning the
constable, mounted upon his broncho, &C.
companied by the prisoner astride of the
mule, which the elder had kindly loaned
him, started through the mountains for the
penitentiary, where taey arrived the second
Day out, their ANIMALS loaded with deer.
two antelope and q small cinnamon bear,
which they sold to the warden Of the
prison. After dividing the money, the
constable proceeded to hand over Zlmri on
the following mittimus, which is carefully
preserved, and may be seen in the pos
session of the warden:
To the he'd man of the Colorado prison,
down at the foot of the Big Canyon on the
Arkansas.-Take notice; Zimri Bouls, who
comes with this here, stole Elder Slater's
eyed mule, an it was all the mule the
Elder had, and l sentenced Zim officially to
one year in the Colorado prison, and 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 stealing the Elders mule, my wife,
Lizzy, who Is kind of tender-hearted crit.
ter, come and leaned her arm on my shout
der, an says she, Father, don't forget the
time when Zim, with his rifle, covered our
cabin from Granite mountain, an saved us
from the ArapahOes, an, father, l have
heard you tell that after you was wounded
at Sandy Creek, an helpless, it was Zimris
rifle that halted the Indian that was creep
ing in tho grass to scalp you" An then
there was tear splash fell upon the SEN
tence, an l changed my mind SUDDENLY as
follows: Seeing as the mule had but one
eye, an wern't morn half q mule at that,
you can let Zim 90 at about six months, an
sooner if the Injuns shud get ugly, an, fur
thermOre, if the Elder shud quiet down an
give in any times, will pardon Zim out in
stanter.
Witness my official hand and seal.
JAMES BARKER,
Justice of the Peaoein Blue Lizard Gulch,
FL PasO county, in the Territory.
The warden, after informing the consta-
BILE that be could not receive the prisoner
upon the commitment offered, pl oceeded to
explain that he should have given bond
in the sum OF about $500 to appear at the
district court. Accordingly, the constable
withdrew with his prisoner, when 1t was
agreed between them that Zimri should
give the constable his bond for the amount
mentioned by the warden. This was ac-
complished by Zlmri subscribing his name
to an old replevin bond calling for $500,
fonnd among the papers transmitted to the
constable by his predecessor. Then, as the
constable intended returning by way of
Pinon mountain to examine . bear den
where he had seen q couple of cubs playing
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 q
mountain squatter, just from Missouri, for
Q horse, and the pris 0ner is believed to be
at this time dashing hunter on the plains