The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-03-09

A mos, unique code % laws has jus. been
adopted a. Copper City Naides bsy. Alas
Ma. for the government OF the citizens oi
that city The laws are 10 be IN effect ali
over TIE Copper river country and cover
but three cFimes-thsft, murder ana az
sauit and battery. Al Copper city oftiesfk
have been elected 10 see thar the laws afe
enforced and other officers are 70 BE- elect
"a ss new camps grow up throughout the
country The code is absolutely original as
90 phraxeoiogy and punishment. but there
Is no doubt but that they Will be enforced.
and 20 the letter.
The meeting az which these laws were
formulated. written out and unanimously
adopted was held IN Copper CITY At
O'Clock p. m. February s. The news
reached this city by the steamer Alliance.
which Is the first vessel 10 arrive from the
mouth Of Copper river for a month. The
meeting was held In a small cabin and
the place al once became known "a the
court house. The meeting was attended
by q large number OF the miners who are
waiting AZ that point for chance to pro-
coed back into the bills along the Copper
river In search Of wonderful gold hedges.
about which so much has been said aid
90 little Is really known
After the code 81 laws had been written
out and adopted an election OF officers
was held. which resulted in G. a. King
getting the office OF Judge, Dalhert Ste
yens sheriff and Frank =. Reed clerk
copy OF the code came down on the
Alliance. The manner in which II IL
written Is almost as interesting as the
laws and penalties. IL reads as follows:
.'Whereas, the citizens Of the United
States on their way into the Copper river
country, Alaska. realizing that We have
no protection under the law OF the land,
deem il necessary 10 enact code Of laws
20 govern our conduct during 0uF Journey
and stay in Alaska. Therefore. be II
Resolved. Elrst-Ihat aas t-4svss =uilty
be punished as a jury OF twelve nea shall
decide
second That any person guilty OF as
eauit. assault and battery. aggressive az
sauls or assault with intent 10 kill. shall
be punished as Jury Of twelve men shall
decide.
ing any property whatsoever, shall be
tried by jury OF twelve men, and upon
conviction shall DO sentenced 10 restore
property stolen and 10 pay the party in
3urcd nll damages sustained directly or
Indirectly In consequence OF the theft. In
case the guilty party shall not restore and
make good ali damages aforesaid. the In
5ured party may take sufficient property
OF the defendant 10 satisfy ali damages
ard dispose OF II sn any way he may dee a
proper. The defendant shall also be bar
tshed forever from the country. and he,
failing 10 leave Immediately upon notice
ohall receive not less than ten nor more
than nifty Iashes and failing TO leave
within ten days after such punishment.
he shall ABIDE by the consequences.
Should the amount stolen exceed si,o in
value. he shall be punished as in "a case
Of murder
Fourth Any person charged with the
crimes az described above shall he tried
by n jury OF twelve men Of the district
and In all trials shall be entitled 10 three
peremptory challenges Before a person
ehaii be adiuoged guilty, not less than ten
OF the jury shall agree on his guilt
'Flfth-The officers elected 20 enforce
these laws shall consist Of a judge. sheriff
ard clerk"
This completes the remarkable docu-
rnent, which - signed hy the officers elect
ed Immediately after the code Of laws had
been adopted. II is very eyiden, that no
lawyer had hand In the drawing an OF
the laws Of the Copper river country. h1lf
che two passengers who came hack on the
Alliance believe that there vii ha less
trouble about enforcing them than Il ihe
best lawyers In the states had written
them out.