The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1898-11-27
HE FOOLED THE JURY
A LAWYERS CLEVER TRICK THAT
SAVED HIS CLIENT.

When Colorado was organized rs a
territory, there was little English used
outside OF Denver and the mining
camps Ths rest of tie thinIy scattered
country was as Spanish as any part of
/ our latest America. Not Castilians, of
course-mors likely a general mixture
OF Aztec and Apache and lot of other
strains Of blood, but certainly Spanish
in name and in speech. 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-
caticn 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 CT the federal
Judiciary in the great and prosperous
state of Colorado. Despite this fierceness
OF re5ake and countless oddities of tem-
Per 10 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 sociabiIity 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 incessant annoyance to
Judge Hallett. who declaimed against
each one in turn and announced his
purpose Of memorializing 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 of his court
was that which provided that all its
transactions should be in English. and
that if litigants objected to the work of
the sworn interpreter that was their
own lookout. 1t 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 it
may have been, for that is unimportant.
The prosecuting attorney put ON wit
ness after witness to prove the facts.
He made perfect case, and he demand |
ed that full punishment be inflicted. Ii |
was q 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 /
so foolish. The case was alto
gether Spanish. Criminal, witnesses,
nudience-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. " he began-"cab:Iloros
del jurado"-
There was loud whacking OF the
gavel by Judge Hallett as soon as he
caught the sound of the language which
be despised so heartily.
MI. Taylor, Mr.. Taylor" 4" he shout
ed. las member Of the bar of this
court you must be aware that ell its
transactions must be conducted in the
English language, the language of this
country. If l thought that you were
using Spanish maliciously. | should
punish you soundly for such contempt
ot this court. You will address this
court of the United States in United
states and in no other speech. language
IT dialect
81 bow to your honor's ruling" con-
lnued Colonel Taylor and resumed his
,lea' but IN English and with the as
lstance Of the interpreter He told the
'reaser jury how the sight of their
'roud Castilian lineaments had caused I
nm to forget rule of the court and to
ddress them in tho sonorous speech CT {
pain, from which their proud fore. {
athers came. He obeyed the Judge, but
e felt the restraint Of having TO make {
rs pleading through the assistance Of {
no interpreter. 1t was q simple matter !
'hich he could set right in few sen. !
ences OF their own language, but be
cared that in English he could not do {
We'll; yet he hoped that they would
ot see fellow citizen punished solely
Dr. the reason that his advocate was not
flowed to address Spanish jury in
nelr own tongue. Harping ON this 9
neme, he avoided any discussion Of the {
vidence which bore 30 heavily ON his 9
lient, and In his peroration he paid a
lowing tribute to the language Of Don .
ulxote and Queen Isabella. This done, '
ned from tho spot and was not seen o
ntil court had arisen for the day. q
When they next met, the prosecuting ?
'tornsy wanted TO know why he had =
Dc been on hand to receive congratula- Il
ons ON the acquittal Of bis client
They set him free without O stain D
his character and without their seat ,
1d It was all due to your Spanish.
Thy didn't you .waitI You're the hero
the whole population