Omaha daily bee., 1898-11-19
WHERE SPANISH WAS USEFUL.
A Colorado Lawyer Knew Only Three
Words, but They Were Effective.

Words. but They Were Elective.
When Colorado was organized es terri
tory there was little English used outside
OF Denver and the mining camps. The rest
OF the thinly scattered country was as Span
ish as any part of our latest America. Not
Castilians, Of course; more likely a general
mixture Of Aztec and Apache and lot of
other strains Of blood, but certainly Span
ish In name and speech
The government recognized that 1t had a
dif1cult task before 1t In bringing these
'sreasers" to understand the very begin
ming OF the obligations and duties OF their
American citizenship. One OF the most
trusted agents in this campaign OF education,
relates correspondent Of the New York
Sun. was Judge Hallett, who was put in
charge OF the judicial system OF the new
territory. From that time to this he has
been at the head OF the federal judiciary in
the great and prosperous state of Colorado.
Despite his fierceness of rebuke and count
less oddities OF temper. 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 sociability and 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 shad-
ows or the Sangre de Cristo range. These
spanish names were an incessant annoyance
TO Judge Hallett, who doclsirled against
each one in turn ana announced his pur-
pose OF memorialzng the secretary OF the
interior to have them all made American
or piece with this was his attitude toward
the prevailing Spanish speech OF the coun-
try; he objected to it. Among the first
rules of his court was that which provided
that all its transactions should be in En-
glish and that IL litigants objected to the
work of the sworn interpreter that was
their own lookout 1t might encourage thcm
TO learn to talk American" as they ought.
In Trinidad Colonel Taylor Of the bar was
retained for the defense in case where no
deiense was possible. The place was full
OF witnesses who had seen the deed done,
whatever it may have been, for that is un-
important. The prosecuting attorney put
on witness after witness to prove the facts.
He made a perfect case and he demanded
that full punishment be inflicted. 1t was
difficult situation for Colonel Taylor. His
client was guilty beyond a doubt cross ex-
animation OF the witnesses could only make
that fact more distinct. and for that reason
he did nothing foolish. The case was alto
gether Spanish. Criminal, witnesses, audi
ence, there were not six words OF English
In the whole outfit. The interpreter had
been called ON tor 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
sitting.
"Caballeros. he began. "caballeros del
jurado--'
There was a. loud whacking of the gavel
by Judge Hallett 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 transactions must he
conducted in the English language. the Ian
guage Of this country. II l thought that
you were using Spanish maliciously should
punish you soundly for such contempt Of this
court. You will address this court OF the
United States in United States and in no
other speech. language or. dialect"
Il bow to your hOnors ruling" con-
tinued Colonel 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 Castilian
lineaments had caused him to forget 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 in
terpreter. 1t was a simple matter. which he
could set right in a few sentences OF their
own language, but he feared that In Eng
lish he could not do so well, yet he hoped
that they would not see fellow citizen
punished solely for the reason that his ad- |
vocate was not allowed to address a Span
ish jury In their native 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 I,
Quxote 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 to know why he had not
been on hand to receive congratulations on |
the acquittar OF his client.
"They set him free without a stain on
his character and without leaving their
seats, and it was all due to your Spanish |
Why didn't you waltz You're the hero of
the whole population"
That's Just the trouble" rejoiued Colo |
mel Taylor. II knew they'd acquit that
chicken thief and then they'd fall all over
me with their Spanish. Just naturally had
to hide. Those three words that Judge Hal |
let choked me of on, that's all the Spanish
ever knew in my fife. couldn't afford
to be congratulated"