Daily Los Angeles herald., 1881-12-24
Yos gugeles alerala.
JUSTICE BERRY OF TUoLUMEE.
1hs Most Remarkable Judicial ASS Since the
Ago Of Dcgbsrry.

In 1851 the town of Sonora, In
Tu0lumne county, was Distinguish
ed by the administration of the
most remarkable Justice OF the
Peace since the time of Squire
Dogberry. His name was Richard
q. Berry, and he was an lrishman.
Al that time Sonora was the head
quarters OF remarkable collection
Of educated Southwestern men,
many OF whom have since become
distinguished in public life-Hon.
Charles l.. Scott, ]. w. Coffroth,
John Sedgewick, J. w. Mande-
Vile, ex-senator VIM. M. Gwinn,
d. O. MCCARTHY, DR.. Walker and o
score OF others; and to these Squire
Barry's Court was source OF pro-
dl9tous amusement. The records
Of his Court, as written by himself,
are still accessible at Sonora, and
would be q mint Of wealth to Har-
per's Drawer. The following ex-
tracts will be sufficient illustra-
tions Of Justice Berry's decisions:
NO. SIG.
This is q suit for Mule Eteeling
in which Jesus Rsmiers is indicted
for steeling one black mare mule,
branded q with q 5 in 1t from
Sheriff Work. George swares the
mule In question Is bisn and be
leeve so to on hearin the case l
found Jesus Ramirez guilty of fe-
loniously against the law made and
provided and the dignity of the
people Of Sonora steelin the afore-
said mare mule sentenced him to
pay the cost OF Court $40 and fined
him 500 more as a terrour to all
evil d0oers. Jesus Ramirez not
having any munuy to pay with
rooled that George Work should
nay the costs of c0ort, as we'll as
the fine, and in defanlt of payment
that the said one mare mule be
sold by the Constable John Luney
or other officer Of the Court to meet
the expenses Of the Costs of Court,
as also the payment Of the fine as
Aforesaid. r. G. BARRY, J. p.
Sonora, August 81, 1851.
JOHN LUNEY, Constable.
N. B. Barber the lawyer for
Geerge Work insolentIy told me
there was no law for me too rool so
I told him I didn't care damn for
his booklaw, that l was the law
myself. He continued to jaw back
I told him to shet up but he
wouldn't / fined him $50 and COM
mitted him to goal for five days
for contempt OF court in bringing
my rOolings and dissisions into dis
reputableness and as warning to
unrooly persons not to contradict
this court.
This was suit between two
0amboleers E. Krohe the gambo-
leer who sooed Sam Heed the
gam boleer to recover 800 dollars
won at Ceards. After much swar-
ing one way and another the law
yers H. p. Barber and Leander
Quint argooed the Gaze which after
. long time they got through and
disided that Barber was right
whereupon Quint said please
your honor 1 can never get
Justice In your court put
ting out his finger and thumbs
I told him the likes Of him in my
country often lost their fingers
stealing corn or chickens and that
If had anything to say he never
shood have justice here I ordered
him to hold his tuDg and shet up
when he went out of court he be.
gun to grumble again I ordered
John Luney the constable to ar
rest him and bring.him into court
before me which he done and l
then fined $25 for contempt of
Court,
Costs of Court 500 which was
paid. r. y. BARRY,
Justice Peace.
SONORA, September 10, 1851.
Constable.
*-The lawyer had somehow lost two of
his fingers. and was then called "Three-
Fingered Quint" by parties wishing to
make themselves disagreeable.