Arizona republican., 1895-07-18
A Man of Wide Reputa-
 ton or Notoriety.
How the Murder of a Chinaman Was JudiciaiIy Bridged Over.
An Office Lost by Election, put Re- gained by Quart Of Whisky
 and a Coonskin.

Judge Roy Bean, Of Pecos county, Texas, the most noted justice of the peace in the United States, is visiting friends in the valley, among whom is Capt. W. W. Jones'. of the south side.
 The proceedings in Justice Beans court are supposed to have constituted the basis of nun berless congregations of application of law in the west gen. erally, and in Texas particularly. Many acts and decisions never performed or uttered have been ascribed to him. but enough unusual incidents have arisen in his court to fill volume on eccentric jurisprudence.
 One of his most famous decisions, which, perhaps, has never received publication outside the immediate vicinage of the justices court. Long tree, Tex, bat which IS well known of all Texans, was rendered in the case of the murder of Chlnaman. The mur- derer was a young desperado. The crime was committed absolutely with. out provocation, was witnessed by dozen men and was exceptionally wanton in detail. The murderer was arrested and taken before Justice Bean for examination. The witnesses testi- fled to the killing and the absence of
 provocation. The defendant boastfully admitted everything. The justice ad- justed his spectacles and having ex-
 amined various copies of statutes and reports, said: q hey investigated the law in this case and hev noted what it says bout murders an homicides an
 manslaughter, but fail to find anything bearin' on Chinamen in any way. No crime has, therefore, been proved agin the defendant, an he is discharged. District Attorney Cunningham, wto was present trying to sus ain the peace and dignity of the commonwealth of
 Texas, remonstrated. The court re- | fused to listen to him and the district
 attorney in a fit of desperation ex- | claimed, II give notice of appeal!'' ''I'll hev you understand by G-d," replied the justice, 'that you can't ap- peal this court is supreme in this here United States west of Pecos river" There were several saloons in Long i tree and one was owned by Justice Bean. Whenever an unfortunate was | brought before him for drunkenness CT
 for any otfense growing out of drunken
 ness, the justice instituted inquiry con-
 cerning the saloon where the inspiring lliquor had been procured. If that sa-
 loon happened to be Justice Beans the defendant was dismissed with a profane admonitIon or nominal fine or both l But if the delinquent was connected | by evidence with any other saloon the penalty was of full measure and una. dulterated. The sentence was usually
 closed with the remark, "Pll show you
 galloots where to buy you're licker."
 ''The laws one thing an common sense is another" was an aphorism of
 Justice Beans; and he usually added
 1T may not be much on law out Pm h-l on equity"
 l This extraordinary incumbent had | been elected for several terms in success | sion. At last even Pecos c,unty
 felt sense of outrage at the character
 of his judicial proceedings and he was | defeated for reelection.
 I The triumph of his victor was i'll
 advised and his official career was brief and tumultuous. It took man of
 nerve to be justice of the peace in
 Pecos county in those days. Within
 three months the new justice felt an
 unconquerable desire to return to pri-
 vate life. Negotiations were entered
 into between him and his defeated an-
 tagonist whereby Justice Bean upou the
 payment of quart of whisky and the
 transfer of coonskin again ascended
 the bench.