The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1884-02-22

q 0ANSeaAis xswyse's 1e1inlsssaees I
0o0o 0xiM1Asl 0aoaa n Sax24 0aSD.

q 0aliSesais xswyss's 1sninisseaees q
seas Criminal oasss u 1asay 0ays. q.
On the journey between Ogden and
San Francisco, made the acquaintance
Of On early settler in California. He
was lawyer, and full of "reminiscences
Of the early administration OF law in the
state. II seems to have worked con-
sistently so as to give the odd chance to
the criminal. Three escapes are worth
recording. The first happened at Es-
meralda, town near the borders Of
Nevada and California. A man was
Icing tried for niurder-a very bad case.
Esme meralda being at the time understood
to ,e in California, the Judge,
ShreliIs and jury were oil from
that State. The case for the l,rosec,,-
ton was concluded, there was literally
no defense, and the fate of the prisoner
seemed sealed. The Judge was about
to alress the Jury, when the official sur
veyors, who had been working in the
neighborhood for some days, arrived i'll
the Court and announced that Esmeral-
da was in Nevada. "Then, gentlemen"
said the Judge, rising and reaching out
for his hat, 'sI don't know that I've any
business here" "I reckon, Judge, that
we've none either," said the jury, be-
ginning to disperse. 81 guess I'm in
the wrong box, too," said the prisoner,
and out he went with the crowd, and
was not seen in the neigllborhood any
more.
In the second case the prisoner got
Oft by an oversight of the Judge. This
happened at Sacramento. The man
had been caught red handed in the act
of murder, but in accordance with the
possibilities of American law had been
bailed out. At the sitting of the court
the man surrendered, and the respon-
sibility of his bondsman there ended.
This was q preliminary inquiry. and
what the Judge had to decide was
whether the man should he held to an
swer the charge before q jury, a process
akin to our magesterial inquiry. After
hearing the evidence the Judge 'held
the prisoner to answer" but ommitted
the next formula of delivering him into
the custody of the Sheriff. II was ac-
cordingly the business of only single.
person to look after the prisoner. That
person was himself, and Judging he
would be better outside, he walked out,
and has not since been captured.
The third case is less nearly connect
ed with legal formula. A sheriff had
after hot chase caught a prisoner
charged with shooting fellow -prac-
TONER at the bar of hotel. As there
was some talk OF rescue, the sheriff, q
determined fellow, spared no precau-
ton. He had the prisoner bound and
carried into u substantial log hut.
Arming himself to the teeth, lie deter
mined to keep watch himself through
the night. He barricnded the door,
and for greater safety slept across it,
placing his prisoner in the corner re-
motest from the door. 81 guess he
said, as he lay down. '.if they take the
hoy they'll have to stride over my
body" At daylreak he was awakened
by cold ,lraught, and looking round,
saw TINT lie was the sole occupant. of
the hut. The prisoners friends had
raised one corner Of the hut with
screwjack, the prisoner had rolled HIM
self out. and was already well across
the bonler.-Lonlon Daily News.