Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1898-02-03
JUDGES in NEW MEXICO.
Gross Ignorance Of Law shown i'm
Their Decisions.

Gross Ignorance of Law shown i'm
Their Decisions.
Among the wild, weird and wonder
full things to be founG in the southwest
are the decisions sometimes made by
Mexican justices of the peace. Most of
the justices in this territory are MeNi-
cans. \ few of them are men of sutii-
cient intelligence and education to
know something about the first pTin-
ciples of law, but most of them are
very meagerly equipped.
One such administrator of the law
holding Office in northern New Mexico
decided that it was his duty to try
man who had been charged with muir
der. Accordingly. he impaneled jury
of six persons and tried the case. The
jury found the man guilty. and the
justice at once ordered the prisoner tc
stand up for sentence. He delivered a
long lecture to the murderer upon the
Nervousness OF his crime and warned
him never TO appear in his court again
upon such charge. Then he impress
sively pronounced sentence-five dol
lars and costs-and dismissed the court.
his face beaming with pride and salts
faction over his oratorical effort.
Before another Mexican justice of
the peace who dispensed his ideas of
law in southern New Mexico there came
Mexican man and maid to be tied in
wcdlock. The judge looked them over
critically. and apparently had doubts
about the compatibility of their tenn
pers. for he put a time limit upon the
combination. and as he pronounced the
words which made them man and wife,
he added with emphasis. for the space
of two years only" As they went away
he told them ii they were dissatisfied
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 a man for some petty Of
ftnse. found him guilty. and iued him
five dollars and costs. But this was
too much for the prisoner at the bar
who declared that he could not pay the
fine; that he had not so much money
in the world The justice looked him
over with fine, large Texan contempt
for anyone so orneTy. shrugged his
shoulders and turned to the marshal
with the nonchalaut alternative:
VERY well. Then take him out on
the mesa and shoot him!"
One venerable disciple of the law, who
for a long time has balanced the scales
of justice in the town of Las Cruces.
is famous through all that region for
his remarkable decisions. Before him
a Mexican boy. through his father. sued
an American rancher for $50. which he
claimed as the wages due for three
months work. Between a Mexican and
an American, any Mexican justice can
always see that the right is plainly
on the side of the suitOr of his own
nationality. and no matter what the
evidence. he can usually find some way
of making his decision express his sym
pathv. In this case the defendant
proved that the hoy had been hired 10
do chores for his board and that it had
been expressly stipulated that he was
not to receive money payment. The
Justice considered the ease with frown-
ing brows and laboring brains for some
time. Then he announced that the
plaintiff had failed to prove his case.
But" he added. THE boy is q poor
boy and it would be a shame if he did
not get something out of this suit. He
is entitled to something, and | hereby
award him the defendants black mare
that is tied in front of the door,"
This same Justice had TO decide
unique breach-of-pron.ise suit. Among
the Mexicans it is the universal custom
for the bridegroom 10 defray all the
expenses of the wedding. He must
furnish the brides trousseau and all
the housekeeping equipment. and he
must pay 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
matrimony until he has money enough
to pay for the whole affair, from the
first article in the brides trousseau TO
the photograph in their wedding gar
ments. which they invariably have
taken after the feast is over. \ MeNi-
can bridegroom would no more expect
his bride to pay for her wedding
clothes than an Americas lover would
expect his bride TO pay for the license.
Many of these Mexican justices cannot
speak English. But that is not so much
of disqualification as it might appear,
for the territorial law commands all
court proceedings TO be carried on in
both English and Spanish. Every New
Mexican court has its official inter
prefer, and every word spoken in either
language by judge. lawyers or witnesses
is translated aloud into the other
tongue-N. y. Sun.