Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-12-27
He FOOLED THE JURY
A LAWYERS CLEVER TRICK THAT
SAVED HIS CLIENT.

The Rascal on Trial Was Guilty and
Proved So Beyond Doubt. but the
Shrewd Lawyer Found q Way to
Win Hrs Case
When Colorado was organized as a
territory, there was little English used
outside Of Denver and the mining
camps. Ths rest Of the thinly scattered
country was as Spanish as any part of
cur latest America. Not CastiIians, of
course-moFe likely general mixture
Of Aztec and Apache ard lot of other
strains of blood, but certainly Spanish
in name and in speech. 1.-The govern
ment recognized that it had difficult
task before il in bringing these 'greas-
ers' to understand the very beginning of
| the obligations and the duties of their
| American citizenship. One Of the most
trusted agents in this campaign of edu-
| Cation was Judge Hallett. who was put
in charge of the judicial system of the
| new territory. From that time TO this
| no has been at the head of the federal
judiciary in the great and prosperous
state OF Colorado. Despite this fierceness
| of rebuke and countless oddities of tenn
per 20 judge has ever been SO respected
as be along the great divide.
When he first went on circuit, the bar
left Denver with him and travelled in
body both for scciability and for safety
Then there was no railroad, the only
means of reaching any place from any
other being along a slightly marked
trail barely passable for horses. By slow
stages the bench and the bar reached
Trinidad under the cold shadows of the
Sangre de Cristo range. These Spanish
names were an iDcessant annoyance to
Judge Hallett, who acclaimed against
each enc in turn and announced his
purpose CT rieInorializing the secretary
of the interior to have them all made
American. OF piece with this was his
attitude toward the prevailing Spanish
speech Of the country. He objected to
it Among the first rules CT his court
was that which provided that all its
transactions should be in English, and
that if litigarts objected to the work of
the sworn interpreter that was their
own lockout. 1t might encourage them
70 learn to talk American, as they
ought.
In Trinidad Colonel Taylor of the
bar was retained for the defense in a
case where 70 defense was possible.
The place was full Of witnesses who
aad seen the deed done. whatever it
may have been, for that is uniuportant.
The prosecuting attorney put on wit
ness after witness 10 prove the facts.
He made a perfect case, and he demand
ed that full punishment be inflicted. 1t
was q difficult situation fer Colonel
Taylor His client was guilty beyond .
doubt Cross examination OF the wit
uesses could only make that fact more
distinct, and for that reason he did |
nothing so foolish. The case was alto |
Gether Spanish. Criminal, witnesses, |
audience-there were not six words of |
English in the whole outfit. The inter |
prefer had been called on for every word |
which had gone back and forth through |
out the trial. Colonel Taylor arose to |
make his plea. He surveyed the cluster |
of dark faces which filled the shed in |
which the court was sitting.
"Caballeros, )" ne Representatives. |
del jurado''-
There was loud whacking of the |
gaveI by Judge Hallett as soon as he /
caught the sound of the language which
me despised so heartily.
Mr.. Taylor, Mr.. Taylor, F" he shout
ed. las q member of the bar of this
court yen must be aware that all its
must be conducted in the
English language, the language of this
country. If ] thought that you Were
using Spanish maliciuusly, l should
punish you soundly for such contempt
of this court You will address this
court of the United States in United
States and III no other speech, language
or dialect.
II bow TO your honor's ruling" con-
tinued Colonel Taylor and resumed his
plea, but in English and with the as
sistance of the interpreter. He told the
greaser jury how the sight Of their
proud Castilian lineaments had caused
him TO forget rule of the court and to
address them in the sonorous speech of
Spain, from which their proud fore
fathers came. He obeyed the judge, but
be felt the restraint of having TO make
his pleading through the assistance of
he interpreter 1t was simple matter
which he could set right in a few SEN
fences of their own language, but he
feared that in English he could not do
90 well; yet he hoped that they would
not see fellow citizen punished solely
Tor the reason that his advocate was not
allowed TO address Spanish Jury in
their own tongue Harping on this
theme, he avoided any discussion Of the
evidence which bore so heavily en- his
,lient, and in his peroration he paid a
glowing tribute TO the language of Don
Quixote and Queen Isabella. This done,
Ie fed from the spot and was not seen
Until court had arisen for the day.
When they next met. the prosecuting
attorney wanted TO know why ne had
lot been On hand TO receive coneratula-
lions ON the acquittal of his client
They set him free without stain
IN his character and without their seat
md il was all due 10 your Spanish.
Why didn't you wait: You're the hero
If the whole population.
That's Just the trouble, rejoined
Colonel Taylor II knew they'd ac9uit
bar rascal and ther, fha-sd fall all ovar !