St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1892-12-31

L JuAgo who OvsrruleA The United Seosse
- Supreme Court.
Western Judges have been the butt OF
many jokes and yarns, and while the
stories have made interesting reading.
they have been generally taken - the
breezy offsprings Of some imaginative
mind. Such Was the idea I enter.
tanned previous TO my introduction to
some of the honored upholders of JUS
tice, but . short acquaintauee with
some Of their absurd constructions OF
the law has dissipated any misgivings !
had in regard to tho truth and veracity
of the scribeA
In 1885 there was . body Of United
States soldiers 1T Fort Concho. in Tom
Green county. Tex, and - natural
consequence . small town had sprung
up Just across the river. San Angelo
WAS not place Of much Importance ut
frst, but ir Boon sprang into promi-
nence ~ the toughest town IN that
tough state. Its inhabitants were chief
" gamblers and saloon men, with .
large cowboy floating population. oil
men to whom the six-shooter was -
much of . neceasitv Is their food. and
the use of il as common - that OF .
knife and fork.
shooting scraps needed no court 70
settle them They settled themselves
Horse-thieves received no mercy. But
when at last one day petty case came
mp, It WAS deemed necessary for the dig.
nifty Of the place that . justice Of some
sort should be appointed. and that Il
how Preusser got his title. He was .
short, stocky-built German. with small.
piercing gray eyes that were twinkling
with mirth or emitting sparks ef anger.
as occasion required. His word wsa
law, and ON one occasion when he dis
charged q poor woman who had been
arrested for stealing bacon. and against
whom the evidence was conclusive, .
bystander exclaimed:
"why. judge, you can't do that; it't
contrary to law, /" the little judge braeed
mp in his chair, and. bringing his fist
down with considerable emphasis. re
Piled: "Blast the law; its justice vat
we vant!" and the case was settled.
Numerous stories might be told con
cerning his rulings in different casea
How, after fining man for disorder1y
conduct, he paid the fine himself and
gave the prisoner money enough to gel
TO Ell Paso On one occasion two Be
ligerents were mp before him for fight
ing, one with his head chopped opeE
with q hatchet, and the other minus Al
ear and his nose held in place with
q strip Of plaster. He heard both sidea
Of the case. and. finding the quarrel
was the result Of . mutual misunder.
standing, discharged both with the can
ton that "If elder Of you vellers cooma
mp before me again, I'll gif you poth Z
week in Jail" Then he made them
shake hands. and invited the principal.
| in the case and witnesses TO drink u
his expense.
One day the settlement was startled
by the report that young lawyer had
come to live there. and there was grea'
rustling to see who would give him
the first case. Two cowboys Rot
up . dispute about the ownership
of q saddle. and then shook dics
| to see who would have the lawyer
When the case was called the couF'
room was crowded, the judge behipi
his desk looking more solemn thar
usual. and the lawyer. . young spria
straight from an eastern law school
with an uneasy look on his fac
and lie Of law bookA occu
pied table At one side. There wer'
many witnesses to examine, for every
body wanted . finger in the pie. ani
| when the evidence was all In tho law
yer made quite an eloquent plea. and
clinched his arguments by reading tn
decision of the United States suprem'
court in . parallel case. As he -
down with . confident smile the de
fendant wore An mir of defeat but th'
little Judge arose with an air Of judicia
authority that would have stricken I
supreme court Judge dumb. and csusel
the utter collapse Of the young lawye
when he declared: ~ oferrule dat De
cision, und der defendant Wins"
It is probably the only case - reeoE'
where the decision of the United State
supreme court has been set aside. bu
such Is one Of the uncertainties Of tn
wild and woolly west-Detroit Fro
l pvoxa