Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1884-09-23
LAW PROBLEMS on THE FROM
TIER.

TIER.
Judge Abraham Gildersleve, Of Whis-
key City, New Mexico, bad a case in
eour, on las, Tuesday which illustrates
the case attending the solution Of law
problems on the frontier as compared to
the ,ediou. methods employed in our
efIe,e civilization.
I, seems ths, one Mr.. Jack Sellers,
while engaged in the pursui, Of his pro-
fe..ion as Desperate, found hair lar
ia, on the outskirts Of whskey City one
night. and conveying !, several miles
toward the mountains. discovered that
there was a mule a, the other end Of Il.
Said mule va. the fee simple Of fsllw-
citizen to whom q complicated occular
trouble bad given the name Of Squint-
eye Charley. and who, a, the time the
mule was discovered. was bearing down
In ho, pursuit. According 10 the custom
Of ,ha, section. both gentlemen drew
their revolysrs on arriving within speak
irg distance. and at the first fire he Of
the eccentric eye fell. pierced by a bulle,
which the sheriff Afierward found to ex-
ac,ly e, Mr.. Sellers. pistol The vigi-
lAnts had closely followed the deceased
gen,leman's trail. and taking both Mr..
Sellers and the mule into custody,
marched back to whsksy City. There
the ciiizeas had already. with much fore
thought. provided six yards Of rope and
a white cap, and Judge Gildsrsleve had
impanelsd jury TO 81, upon the case.
The witnesses were duly sworn and
examined. the evidence was clear and
satisfactory TO the rope committee, and
all pointed to a happy conclusion and a
hanging. when an unexpected Poin, Of
Law was raised by the accused himself.
The border line between Arizona aud
New Mexico runs through Whiskey
City, and the law. Of both territories
hence obtain. |, appear. ,ha, Mr.. Sci.
lsrs had sound the lara, and mule on the
New Mexico .ide Of the line bu, bad .ho,
the owner on the Arizona side. by the
statute. Of New Mex leo il Was death 10
kill the man. bu, nothing to steal the
mule. and by the statutes Of Arizona !,
was death TO steal the mule and nothing
TO kill the man. This. as can readily be
seen. complicated matters to such an ea'
tent that the most sAnguine OF the rope
committee were led 10 believe that the
proposed festival they had contemplated
would have to be indefinitely postponed.
Mr.. Sellers read the statutes covering
both these points with great eleArne''
and force. pausing for a reply and wink
ed with enthusiasm at a friend on the
jury. Judge Gildersleeye buried bis face
in his bandanna for several minutes, as
an impressive preparation for the deliv-
cry Of his charge. Then be said
"Thish var Sellers hez 20, law TO Xiv
sr the case on both sides, and ,hish yar
cote h,z 20, ter maintain the lawn stat
oO,. peryided. II Sellers had stole ,hi'h
yar mule in ArizOBy'n and shot squiniy
in New Mex, the sentence Of this ya'
cote would er ben ter hang him BY the
neck until be war dead'n may God hey
mercy on bis soul. Bu, thish var mule
war stole in New Mex.'n Squin,y had
his toes turned up in Arizony. which i'
the reverse Of the contrary. II thereto
remains fer this cote ter maintain both
laws'n s,atoo,s.'n ter give Sellers the
benefi, Of the doubt. III Sellers pleads
guilty under the s,a,Oo,s'n laws Of New
Mex, Sellers mus, be acquitted for the
mullen hang for the man
Sellers hss,ened to assure the Judge
,ha, he desired to plead under the stat
u,es Of Arizona.
Then" said the judge, with a sish
Of relief. "yOu is acquitted fer squiniy,
and hangs fer the mule. The cote vii
now sdjourn'n front sea, will be pro-