The Wichita daily eagle., 1897-12-10
Weird Mexican Justice.

wild. wierd and wonderful things 10 De
found in the southwest are the decisions
sometimes made by Mexican justices OF
the peace. Most of the justices in TINS ter
r:tory are Mexicans. A few of them are
men Of sufficient intelligence and education
to know something about the nrst pflhci-
pies OF law, but most Of them are very
measerly equipped.
One such administrator Of the law hold
ing office in northern New Mexico decided
thar il was his duty TO try man VINO had
been charged with murder. Accordingly,
he mpaneled a jury OF SIX persons anu
tried the case. The jury found the man
guilty and the justice at once ordered the
prisoner to stand up for sentence. He de-
livered long lecture TO the murderer up
on the heiousness of his crime and warned
him never 20 appear in his court again
upon such a charge. Then he impressive
ly pronounced sentences and costs-and
dismissed the court, his face beaming with
pride and satisfaction over his oratorical
effort.
Before another Mexican justice Of the
peace who dispensed his ideas OF law in
southern New Mexico there came Mex
lean man and maid to be ted in wedlock
The Judge looked them over critically, and
ibility of their tempers, for he put time
limit upon the combination. and as he
pronounced the words that made them man
and wife he added with emphasis "for the
space of two years only As they went
away he told them IL they were dissatis-
fled with their venture before that time to
come back and he would divorce them for
the same fee.
Still another who won his fame in Texas
tried q man for some petty offense, found
him guilty, and fined him s. and costs. But
this was too much for the prisoner at the
bar VINO declared that he could not pay
the fine; that ne had not so much money
in the world. The justice looked him over
with fine, large Texan contempt for any
one so onery, shrugged his shoulders, and
turned TO the marshal with the nonchalan:
alternative:
"Very well. Then, take him out on the
mesa and shoot him.
This same justice had to decide unique
breach Of promise suit. Among the Mexi-
cars it is the universal custom for the
| bridegroom to defray all the expenses Of
the wedding. He must furnish the brides
| trousseau and all the housekeeping equip
ment, all the native wine for the wedding
| feast and all the native wine that the
guests can drink. He may be so poor that
| he will have to live with his wife's parents
| afterward, but he must not think OF matri-
mony until he has money enough to pay
| for the whole affair, from the first article
| in his brides trousesu to the photograph
| in their wedding garments, which they In
| varlably have taken after the feast is over
| A Mexican bridegroom would no more ex-
pect his bride to pay for her wedding
clothes than an American lover would ex-
| pect his bride TO pay for the license
An elderly Mexican In the town of Las
| Cruces, whose heart was as warm as his
head was white, and gained the promise OF
a pretty young senor.ta and together they
| went TO the store to buy her trousseau-
From under her long black lashes she
| flashed her black eyes at him with such
| effect that he opened wide his purse and
bought her all the pretty clothes She want
ed. And the senorita took advantage OF
| the occasion to want pretty much every
| thing she saw. AS soon as she got the
pretty things safely slowed away at home
she Tilted her elderly lover and would not
| even allow him to come to her house.
! While clad in the dresses he had paid for
| she would sal past him in the street with
| her head in the air and give him not the
! least notice. That was too much for a
| hot-hearted but cool-headed lover TO stand.
| and he brought suit for breach or promise.
! asking damages TO the amount OF the value
of the trousseau. II came out on the trial
| that the elderly lover had borrowed the
money with which he had bought the we'd
| ding finery. Than the justice decided in
| the girls favor on the ground that the
| things didn't belong to the man because
they had not been bought with his own
| money