The daily morning journal and courier., 1894-11-30
KANGAROO COURTS.
A Queer Tribunal That is Common in
 Southern Jai,s.
 ~,s, .Ln rhtooon Raonrd

A Queer Tribunal That Is Common in Southern Jai,s.
 From the Chicago Record.l
 You never heard of kangaroo court?" queried the man with the heavy moustache. "Then you have never travelled much in the south. and you certainly have never been in jail in that favored cline. Kangaroo courts are indigenous to the south, the Texas climate being particularly fa- vorable to their development. The im- pure air inside prison walls suits them perfectly, and in 1t they thrive and flourish.
 | "A kangaroo court is a sort of mock court organized by prisoners in jails in the south. They have judge, sher- if, a prosecuting attorney, and other court officers, selected by ballot from among their own number. AS rule, the court is recognized by the jailer and the sheriff of the county, and its ver- diets and decisions are backed by them My experience with kangaroo courts seems funny to me now, and may seem so to you. but I assure you there was no fun in 1t at the time. will say here that I do not know where the name kangaroo originated, but it is general ly accepted in the south, and the courts are known by no other title.
 "A. year or, so ago I was lodged in 9 jail in Texas. It makes no difference what city it was in-the same experi- ence might have been had in Austin, | Houston, San Antonio, Waco, or Dallas | Neither does 1t make any difference why was at loggerheads with the law l Locked up I was, and in jail I stayed for several months. When arrested had considerable money with me, which was left, together with my knife, wal let and watch, in the care of the jailer It was my first experience of jail life and I was not looking for the recep- tion that received.
 Down in Texas they separate the prisoners by color. The whites and blacks are not compelled to dwell to | gether behind prison bars any more than in railroad coaches or in circus tents. In the particular bastile that was honored with my presence the colored brother was housed down stairs while the whites were placed up stairs. Being white. I was ushered into the upstairs department. At the time I was jailed there were over sixty whites in jail and about the same number of colored folks. had not been in jail an hour before I was arrested by the sher- Tiff of the kangaroo court and hauled before the judge. did not know what the proceedings meant, and when a big, burly fellow told me to come along with him went to find out.
 "I had not been in the state long, and it was my first trip in the land of the kangaroo court, or I might have had some idea of it and have known what was in store for me. was taken down into the end of the corridor, where court was in session. A jury was quickly empapelled, and. I was asked whether I was guilty or not guilty. I inquired what charge was against me and was told that I was charged with breaking into jail.' I thought there was little chance to es- cape on any plea but that of self-de- fence, but I said [ was not guilty. I had no attorney, and the court ap- pointed & man under indictment for murder to defend me. The judge him. self is now doing time for burglary, and the prosecuting attorney, who grew eloquent in denoupcing my high handed conduct in breaking into g public building, Is in the same institu- ton. he having been convicted Of hav- ing three wives. g number not allowed by the statutes of the Lone Star state.
 T was found guilty after short trial, and the judge sentenced me to pay fine of two dollars. refused to iiquidate and the trouble bezan. They had learned that left some money with the jailer, and the court was de- termined to have the amount of the fine, Fines, I was told, were applied to common fund. which was used for the purchase of tobacco and writing material. II did not see why should contribute any good money to buy to- bacco for strangers, especially as ! did not smoke. When the court demanded that pay the two dollars I told him to go to sheol and supposed that the farce was ended.
 "But 1t wasn't was again arrested and charged with contempt of court. It was shown that I had been fined and that had the money to pay the fne, but. that refused to do so and that I was naughty and insolent to the court and its officers. Again I was found guilty and the court sentenced me to receive ten blows from a paddle wield- ed by the sheriff, q lank, red -haired fellow whose legs did not lt him. He