The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1882-09-29
A Tunisiau Court.

In Tunis, the highest Judge in tho
land is the Bey himself The subor-
dinate Judges are the commanders of
towns and the Governors of provinces.
Ii "A person is dissatisfied with their
Judgment, he may appeal to the Bey.
II two persons wish dispute decided,
and are unwilling 10 trust the town
Cldi, they may travel to Tunis and
bring their case before the Bey.
Strange as it may seem. the Tunisians
prefer IA single Judge TO several, as they
have only 10 bride one inste 4 Of two or
more. The ambition of Government
servants Is 20 become q Judge. as then
they may secure large income from
bribe' aud are saved from falling into
the hands of other judges who would
fleece them.
Every Saturday morning the Bey
holds pub ic court in one of his pa aces.
and ~ then accessible TO the lowest of
his subjects. Any one may present his
grievance before his severe gn with tho
knowledge that the Bey viii do him
justice, as well as his wisdom will
permit.
a traveller, who saw the Bey admin
ister justice, describes the tgants rs
showing the greatest confidence in his
Judgment. The scene, as photographed
by the foreign visitor, rec Ills the Biblical
days, when the Judge sat ON the gate
and hearI the cause of the oppressed.
The Bey sat on gi throne OF red
velvet, which stood on raised dais, at
one end of the Judgment hall On the
left were the Princes of his House; on
his right were placel the Prime Minis
ter, the Generals, the chiefs of minis
terial divisions and the clerks of the
court. In the background was com
pany Of his body-guard
a Colonel of gigantic size-the Chief
of the Police-stepped into the open
space in front of the throne. Address
ing himself to the waiting crowd with
out he called out in loud voice:
The Prince salutes you and is here to
render Justice"
An officer handed the Bey pipe, a
servant lit it, and then The first two I'll
giants were brought forward. They
stood about eight feet from the throne.
bowed low and touched their chests
with crossed hands
First the one spoke then the second
defended himself, whereupon both
talked so violently and with such wild
gestures. that the Colonel had to stop
them.
The Bey murmured few words, the
two men bowed low and walked away.
Others came forward the oceedings
We're repeated; some behaved quietly,
while others screamed. After each de-
cision there W + a greater noise. The
parties beat their arms. and were only
restrained by the soldiers from throw
ing themselves at the Beys feet.
The visitor expressed ,tonishment at
the demonstration. You don't under
stand these good people" said the dra-
CONAN; what they say is their express
ION of tn INKS for the Bey's JUS ice, in
which both the accuser and convicted
one ioin.'
The sentences ordered by the Bey
were fines, imprisonment, and the basti-
nado.
The last case was that of murder
committed by two Bedou'ns. father and
son. They were brought in with their
hands tied. On their pleading guilty,
the. Bey emitted thick clouds of smoke,
hSSit"ttu, thl ub iuol lIbcN Ills Tlpus
hand slowly, with the palm downward.
Suddenly he turned it upward-it was
the sentence Of death.
Without word being said, the muir
derers were taken away by two police
men, and the Bey, evidently much
moved rose, bowed and left the hall.
1t is sa d that he rarely pronounces the
s ntence of death. and when compelled
to do 80 spends the day alone and in
prayer.