The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-10-31
Couldn't wait for congratulations.


When Colorado was organized as terri
tory Judge Hallet was appointed United
States judge. and he still occupies the
bench. Spanish then was the language
of the Mexican greasers and of nearly
everybody else. The judge early learned
to despise Spanish, and made rule
against its use in court
In Trinidad, Col. Taylor, of the bar,
was retained for the defense in a case
where no defense was possible, relates the
New York Sun. The place was full of
witnesses who had seen the deed done,
whatever il may have been, for that is I'M
important. The prosecuting attorney put
on witness after witness TO prove The
facts. he made a perfect case and he de-
manded that full punishment be inflicted.
1t was a difficult situation for Col Tay
lor. HIS client was guilty beyond doubt;
cross examination of the witnesses could
only make that fact more distinct, and
for that reason he did nothing so foolish.
The case was altogether Spanish. Grim
inal witnesses. audience, there were not
six words of English in the whole outfit.
The interpreter had been called on for
every word which mad gone back and forth
throughout the trial. Col. Taylor arose to
make his plea. He surveyed the cluster
of dark faces which filled the shed in
which the court was sitting.
"Caballeros,' he began, 'cabaileros Gel
jurado-"
There was a loud whackiug of the gavel
by Judge Hallet as soon as he caught the
sound of the language which he despised
so heartily.
'Mr. Taylor. Mr.. Taylor" he shouted,
"as a member of the bar of this court
you must be aware that all its transact
tions must be conducted in the English
language of this country. If / thought
that you were using Spanish maliciously
7 i 20.
tempt o. this court You will address
this court Of the United States in United
States and in no other speech, language
or dialect"
81 bow to your honor's ruling" contin-
ued Col. Taylor and resumed his plea
but in English and with the assistance
of the Interpreter. He told the greaser
Jury how the sight OF their proud Cas-
titan iineaments had caused him to for
get a rule of the court and TO address
them in the sonorous speech OF Spain,
from which their forefathers came he
obeyed the judge, but he felt the restraint
of having to make his pleading through
the assistance of the Interpreter. 1t was
a simple matter which he could set right
in a few sentences of their own language,
but he feared thai in English he could
not do so we'll yet he hoped that they
would not see fellow-citizen punished
solely for the reason that his advocate was
not allowed to address spanish jury III
their own tongue Harping on this theme
he avoided any discussion of the evidence
which bore so heavily on his client, and
In his peroration he paid a glowing tribute
to the language of Don Quixote and queen
Isabella. This done, he fed from the spot
and was not seen until court had arisen
for the day.
When they next met the prosecuting at
torney wanted 10 know why he had not
been on hand to receive congratulations
on the acduittal of his client
"They set him free without stain on
his character and without leaving their
seats and II was all due to your Spanish.
Why didn't you wait. You're the hero OF
the whole population"
That's just the trouble" rejoined Col.
TAYLOR Il knew they'd acquit that
chicken thief and then they'd fail all over
me with their Spanish. / just naturally
had to hide Those three words that
Judge Hallet choked me off on are all the
Spanish ever knew in my life. 1 couldn't
afford TO be congra tulated