The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1876-02-11
Miscellaneous.
Jim Barker's Court-7lIow they Do things
out in Colorado.

Jim Barker, well known character of
the mountains, whose latch string hangs out
at the head of Blue Lizard Gulch, was duly
elected a justice ofthe peace for that section
of FL Paso county, at the September election
and Mike Irving, comrade of Jim's, was
empowered to ofliciatc rs the executive olli-
Ger of his court. Last week Jim convened
his first court, to hear the complaint of Elder
Slater, travelling missionary, who had
caused the arrest of Zimri Bowels, a resident
of the foot hills, upon 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 mountain, with his
The proof against Zimri was conclusive.
Accordingly, the justice, after much legal per-
plexity of mind, proceeded to sentence
Zimri to one years confinement in the ter
rtorial penitentiary, which sentence he con-
cluded as follows: ,,An, now Zim, seein
AS Pm about out of things to eat, an az you
will have the cost to pay, l reckon you'd
better take a turn among the foothills with
your rifle, an see if you cant pick up some
meat before night, as you can't start for the
Big Canyon before mornin'." Which mar
keting duty was performed by Zim bring
ing in one black tail fawn and a rabbit with
in the time prescribed as postscript to the
sentence. On the following morning the
constable, mounted upon his broncho, ac-
companed by the prisoner astride of the
mule, which the elder had kindly loaned
him, started through the mountains for the
penitentary, where they arrived the second
day out, their animals loaded with deer,
two antelope and a small cinnamon bear,
which they sold to the warden of the prison.
After dividing the money the constable pro-
ceeded to hand over Ximri on the following
mittimus, which is carefully preserved, and
may be seen in the possession Of the war;
den:
To the head 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
one-eyed mule, an it was all the mule the
elder had, and sentenced Zim officially to
one year in the Colorado prison and hated
to do it, seein as Zm once stood by me like
a man when the Injuns had me in a tight
place, an arter / sentenced Zim to one year
for stealing the elders mule, my wife, Lizzy
who is kind oftender-hearted critter, come
and leaned her arm on my shoulder, an says
she, "Father, don't forget the time when
Zim, with his rife, covered our cabin from
Granite mountain, an saved us from the
Arapahoes, an, father, have heard you
tell that after you was wounded at Sandy
creek, an helpless, it was Zimri's rife that
halted the Indian that was creeping in the
grass to scalp YOU" An then there was a
tear splash fell upon the sentence, an l
changed my mind suddenly as follows: See
ing as the mule had but one eye, an wern't
morn half mule at that, you can let Zim
90 at about six months, an sooner if the
Injuns should get ugly, an, furthermore, if
the elder shud quiet down an give in any
time, will pardon Zim out instanter.
Witness my official hand and seal.
JAMES BARKER,
Justice of the Peacein Blue Lizard Gulch.
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 about $500 to appear at the district court
Accordingly, the constable withdrew with
his prisoner, when it was agreed between
them that Zimri should give the constable
his bond for the amount mentioned by the
warden. This was accomplished by Zimri
subscribing his name to an old replevin bond
calling for $500, found among the papers
transmitted to the constable by his pre-
decessors. Then, as the constable intended
returning by way of Pinon mountain to ex-
anime bear den where he had seen acouple
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 a mountain squatter, just from
Missouri, for horse, and the prisoner is
believed to be at this time dashing hunter
ON the plains.