The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-10-27
Justice In Texas.

western judges have been the butt of many
jokes and yarns, and while the stories have
made interesting reading, they have been
generally taken as the breezy offspring of some
imaginative mind, says the Detroit Free Pfess
Such was the idea entertained previous to nv
introduction TO some of the honored upholdeFs
OF Justice, but q short acquaintance with some
Of their absurd constructions OF the law mas
dlsslpated any misRiyinKs had in regard to
the truth and veracity OF the scribes
IN 1855 there was body of United States
soldiers at Fort Concho in Tom Green county
Texas, and as natural consequence a small
town had sprung up Just across the river San
angelo was not place OF much Importance
az nrst, but 1t soon sprung into prominence as
the toughest town in that tough state Its
inhabitants were chiefly gamblers and saloon
men, with a large cowboy floating population
al men TO whom the six shooter was almost as
much OF a necessity as their food and the use
OF II as common as that of knife and fork
shooting scrapes needed no court to settle
them. They settled themselves. Horse thieves
received no mercy. But when at last one day
petty case came up il was deemed necessary
for the dignity Of the place that a Justice OF
some sort should be appointed. and that is how
Judge treusser got his title. He was short,
stocky built German, with small piercing gray
eyes That were twinkling with mirth or emitting
sparks OF anger as occasion required. His word
was law and, on one occasion, when he dis
charged poor woman who had been arrested
Tor stealing bacon, and against whom the evil
dence was conclusive, q bYstander exclaimed:
why. Judge, you can't do that; it's contrary
TO law. The little judge braced up in his chair
and, bringing his fist down with considerable
emphasis. replied: Tam the lawi it's Justice
vat we want" and the case was settled,
Numerous stories might be told concerning
his ruling In different cases How after ining
man for disorderly conduct, he paid the fine
himself and gave the prisoner money enough to
get 70 FL Paso. On one occasion two beliiger.
ents were up before him for fighting, one with
his head chopped open with a hatchet, aud the
other minus an ear and mis- nose held in place
with a strip of plaster. He heard both sides of
the case, and, finding the quarrel was the result
OF mutual Misunderstanding, .soharRed both
with the caution that IF cider Of you vellers
oooms UP before me again I'll eff you a week in
TAIL Then he made them shake hands and
invited the principals IN the case and witnesses
| to drink at his expense.
Ono day the settlement was startled by the
report that young lawyer had come to live
| there, and there was great rustling to see who
would give him the first casa. Two COWBOYS
got up dispute about the ownership of a BAD
die and then shook dice to see who would have
tho lawyer When the case was called the
| court room was crowded, the Judge behind his
desk looking more solemn than usual, and the
lawyer, young sprig straight from an eastern
law school, with an uneasy Iooz on his face and
q pile OF law books, occupied a table at one
side. There were many witnesses TO examine,
| for everybody wanted finger in the pie,
and whom the evidence was all in the law
/ yer made quits an eloquent plea and clinched
/ his arguments by reading the decision of the
4 United States supreme court in a parallel case
! AS he sat down with u confident smile the de-
| PENDANT wore an air of defeat. but the little
| Judge arose with an air of judicial authority
| dumb and caused the utter collapse OF the
| young lawyer when he declared 81 oferrule
dat decision, uRd der defendant wins"
| It is probably the only case on record whore
has been SET aside, but such is one of the I'm.
| certatnties OF the wild and woody wesk