The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1893-07-22

moccasin trail, throw q lasso. and make
the diamond hitch over the back of a
fractions mule. There was little /
could teach them, for the sturdy fell
lows rarely fell i'll with a more serious
ailment than delirium tremens.
The novelty of their habits and man
neTs and a desire to acquire the mys-
teries of plainscraft were the attrac-
tions which drew me to them at first.
but as their better acquaintance with
me rendered them more approachable |
discovered a rugged honesty and sim
cere hospitality, which, added to their
reckless bravado, gave their ways an ir-
reslstible charm. | sought their friend
ship, and went among them whenever
it vas possible to leave camp.
It happened that during the annual
beef roundup" | rode over and passed
the night with my acquaintance. The
following morning there occurred in
camp what the New York Herald
would feadline as Observation-Disclosures
ate Assassination-The Shooting of a
Mexican by Cowboys" The Tombstone
Blade referred incidentally to the affair
as a cheated alteration between
Messrs. @. and r., of the X-Bar Cattle
company, and a Mexican named Man
rico, which resulted fatally to the lat
ter"
Being law-abiding citizens, Messrs.
G.. and R. delivered themselves over to
the sheriff for trial. l was named as a
witness for the defense and served with
summons to appear in court the follow
ing day to give my testimony.
The accused, the other witnesses for
the defense-there were none for the
prosecution - and myself rode over
next morning, reaching the low adobe
about noon. We found the Judge
seated behind his pine slab table in his
shirt sleeves. with his feet on a copy of
Walkers American Law" engaged in
target practice, the bull's-eye being a
retired herring box partially filed with
sawdust that stood in one corner of
the room. After several minutes of
silent rumination he would launch the
results with unerring certainty at the
herring box. The aim of life in Ari-
IONA is to hit something.
The clerk of the court was there, also
the attorney for the prosecution. All
wore six-shooters, and the Judge had-a
Winchester rifle standing handy for the
punishment of contempts of court.
When a few of the jurors assembled
we took seats. The Judge smote the
herring box again, raped with his
heel on the table and opened the trial.
.sThi yyar anrrt'c in cacSion DoroaaA
Mr.. Attorney"
The prosecution arose and stated
/ apologetically that he had no witnesses
to examine. as the complainant had
named none, being deceased, for which
good reaso all of the evidence must be
adduced from the witnesses on the part
of the defense. Mr.. O., otherwise known
as Pecos Bill, conducted his own de-
Tense. By the time | reached the stand
the absent members of the jury had ar
rived. All wore one or more siX-shoot-
ers.
In New York the courts do not sit in
weapons. Not being informed of The
Arizona custom l had left all of mine
at the camp. 1t was evident that the
jury regarded me with a contempt
which deepened into disgust when the
evidence l gave appeared to favor the
prosecution. | had seer the Mexican
to the necessary conclusion that the
shooter was behind him. 1 made that
statement, and there was a chorus of
groans from the jury.
Pecos Bill ose scornfully, and plant
ing his right foot firmly turned his
body so as to place his left back where
his right breast had been.
There" said he, don't you see how
a man standing in front of me could
shoot and hit me in the back?"
had to confess the feat was posi-
BILE. Pecos Bill triumphantly resumed
his seat and turned upon me a look of
pity. which meant hat l was "a deal
greener" than he vel supposed. The
jury remarked facetiously among them
selves that nobody but a freak or a
lunatie ever travelled without a gun"
The judge suggested that possibly l
vas "con compis mentis."
1t was evident that Pecos Bill had
friends in that jury with whom l was
unacquainted, unto whom it would have
to be made pretty clear that my pref
judicial evidence had not been given
with malice prepense before it would
be safe to meet them out of court. |
wished more than ever l had stayed in
nv tent and read novels before going
near that cursed roundup" Mr..
Potter of Texas at the third reading
was preferable to a murder trial in Ari-
IONA without a gun. Shakespeare
wrote: Thrice is he armed that hath
his quarrel just" Shakespeare had
never been in Arizona.
However, in due course of law the