The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-11-01
WHERE srAm.s. WAS usgrvLss
Col. Taylor Knew Only Three Words, hut
They Acquitted His Client.

Col. Taylor Knew Only Three Words, hut
They Acquitted His Client.
When Colorado was organized as a
territory there was little English used
outside OF Denver and the mining
camps. The rest of the tainly scat
tered country was as Spanish as n
part or our latest America. Not Cas-
tilians. Of course; more likely a general
mixture OF Aztec and Apache and a lot
OF other strains OF blood. but certainly
spanish In name and in speech.
The government recognized that IL
had a difficult task before IL In bring
ing these "greasers" to understand the
very beginning Of the obligations and
the duties OF their American citizen
ship. One OF the most trusted agents
In this campaign of education was
Judge Hallett. who was put In charge
or the judicial system OF the new terri
tory. From that time TO this he has
been at the head of the federal judi
ciary in the great and prosperous state
OF Colorado. Despite his f~ierceness of
rebuke and countless oddities OF tenn
per no judge has ever been so respected
as he along the Great Divide.
when he first went on circuit the bar
left Denver with him and Travelled In a
body both for sociab.lity and for safe
~. Then there was no railroad. the
only means of reaching any place from
any other being along a slightly marked
trail barely passaSe for horses. BY
slow stages the bench n the bar
reached Trinidad under the cold shad-
Qws OF the Sangre de Cristo range.
These Spanish names were an incessant
annoyance to Judge Hallett, who de-
claimed against each one in turn and
his purpose of memorializing
the secretary OF the interior to have
them all made American. OF a piece
with this u~aa Ata att,.1A nxsnR thu
prevailing Spanish speech OF the
try; he objected t. it. Among the first
rules OF his Was that which pro-
vided that all its transactions should
be i'm English and that II litigants OBJ
jected to the work of the sworn inter-
prefer that was their wi lookout; IL
might encourage them to learn to talk
American" as they ought.
In Trinidad Colonel Taylor of the bar
was retained for the defense in a case
where no defense was possible. The
place was full of witnesses who had
seen the deed done. whatever IL may
have been, for hat Is unimportant. The
prosecuting attorney put on witness
after witness to prove the facts. He
made a perfect ase and he demanded
that full punishment be inflicted. 1t
was a difficult situation for Colonel
Taylor. His client was guilty beyond a
doubt; cross-examination of the wit
nesses could only MAKE that fact more
distinct, and for that reason he did
nothing so foolish. The case vas alto
gether Spanish. Criminal. witnesses,
audience. there were not six words OF
English in the whole outfit. The in
terpreter had been called on for every
word which had gone back and forth
throughout 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 sit
ting.
"Caballeros." he began. "caballeros
del jurado-"
There was a loud w~hacking OF the
gavel by Judge Hallett as soon as he
caught he sound of the language
which he despised so heartily.
Mr.. Taylor, Mr.. Taylor" he shouted.
las a member OF the bar of this court
you must be aware that all its trans
actions must be conducted in the Eng
lish language. the language of this
country. If / thought you were using
Spanish maliciously, 4 would punish
you soundly for such contempt of this
court. You will address the court OF
the United States In United States and
in M other speech, language or dia-
lect."
Il bow to your honor's ruling" con
tinued Colonel Taylor, and resume 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 a rule of the court and
to address them I'm the sonorous speech
of Spain. from which their proud fore
fathers came. He obeyed the judge,
but he felt the restraint of having to
make his pleading through the assis-
lance of an interpreter. Ii was a sim
n aAtAB he al aAe trh N
a few sentences of their own language.
but he feared that in English he could
not do so well. yet he hoped that they
would not see a fellow citizen punished
solely for the reason that his advocate
was not allowed to address a Spanish
jury i'm their own tongue. Harping on
his theme he avoided any discussion OF
the evidence which bore so heavily on
his client. n in peroration he paid a
glowing tribute to the language of Don
Quixote and Queen Isabella. This done,
he fled 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 he had
not been on hand to receive the con-
gratulations on the acquittal of his eli
emit.
They set him free without a stain on
his character. and without leaving their
seats. and II was all due to your Span
ish. Why didn't you wait? You're the
hero of the whole population"
That's just the trouble" rejoined
Colonel Taylor. Il knew they'd acquit
that chicken thief and then they'd fall
all over me with their Spanish. l just
naturally had to hide. Those three
words that Judge Hallett choked me off
on. that's all the Spanish ] ever knew
i'm my life. l couldn't afford to be con-
graduated"