Sun River sun. [volume] (Sun River, Mont.) 1884-1885, 1884-09-04
FRONTIER LAW PROBLEMS,
Would he Hang for Killing the Man or
for Stealing the Mule7

'SN "S ''dV6 'OV NvtSVS tUe wan or
for Stealing the Mule7
Judge Abraham Gildersleevc, Of
Whisky City, New Mexico, had case
in court last Tuesday which illustrates
the ease attending the solution of
law problems on the frontier as COM
pared to the tedious methods employ
ed in our effete civilization.
1t seems that one Mr.. Jack Sellers,
while engaged in the pursuit of his
profession as n desperate, found u
hair lariat on the outskirts of Whisky
City one night, and conveying it sew
eral miles towards the mountains, dis
covered that there was mule Mt the
other end of it. Said mule was the
fee simple Of fellow citizen to whom
complicated ocular trouble had given
him the name OF Squint-cyc Charley,
and who, at the time the mule was
discovered, was bearing down in hot
pursuit. According to the custom of
that section, both gentlemen drew
their rcvolvcrs on arriving in speaking
distance, aud ut the first fire he Of the
eccentric eye fell, pierced by bullet
which the sheriff afterward found to
fit Mr.. Sellers pistol. The vigilantes
had closely followed the now deceased
gentleman's trail, and taking both Mr..
Sellers and the mule into custody,
marched back to Whisky City. There
the citizens had already, with much
forcthought, provided six yards Of
rope white cap, and Judge Glider
sleeve had empaneled Il jury to sit up
on the case.
The witnesses were duly sworn and
examined, the evidence was clear and
satisfactory to the rope committee,
and all pointed to happy conclusion
and hanging, when an unexpected
point Of law was raised by the accused
himself.
The border line between Arizona
and New Mexico runs through Whisky
City, and the laws of both Territories
hence obtain. 1t appears that Mr. Sci
lcrs had found the lariat and mule on
tie New Mexican side Of the line, but
had shot its owner on the Arizona
side. by the statutes of New Mexico
it was death to steal the mule, but
nothing to kill the man. This, rs can
readily be seen, complicated matters
to such an extent that even the most
of the rope committee were
led to believe that the proposed festi-
val they had contemplated would have
to be indefinitely postponed. Mr.. Sci
lers read the statutes covering both
these points with great clearness and
force, paused for II reply, and winked
with enthusiasm at a friend on the
jury. Judge Gilderslecye buried his
face in his bandanna for several min
utes, as an impressive preparation for
the delivery OF his charge. Then he
said:
"Thish var Sellers hez got law to
kiver the case on both sides, and thish
var cote hez got ter maintain the law
in statoots pcrvidcd. Ef Sellers he'd
stole thish var mule in Arizony II
shot Squinty in New Mex, the SEN
tence of this var cote would or bin ter
hang him by the neck until he was
dead, N may God have mercy on his
soul. But this var mule was stole in
New Mex, N Squinty had his toes
turned up in Arizony, which is the re-
verse of the contrary
Here the judge paused for a moment
and the accused smiled confidently.
The judge continued:
ut thereto remains fer this cote to
maintain both laws n statoots, II ter
give Sellers the benefit OF the doubt.
Ef Sellers pleads guilty under the
statoots n laws of Now Mex, Sellers
must be acquitted for the mule n
hang for the man"
Sellers hastencd to assure the judge
that he desired to plead under the
statutes of Arizona.
"Thcn,' said the Judge, with sigh
of relief, "you is acquitted fer Squinty
and hangs fer the mule. This cote
will now adjourn n q front seat will
be provided at the ecrcmonics"~~ Life
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Great Armies.