Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1899-08-31
QUEER JUSTICE
Keen Writes of the Manila
Native Courts.
Peculiar Results OF the Establishment
of Native Officials in Office-Filipinos
Claim EVERYTHING.

VI Ndtlsc OmClulS III UiHCt-E tllplHUc
Claim Everything.
MANILA, p. l., July q Justice as it
is dealt out by the new Filipino judges
OF Manila is a most peculiar article.
Under a recent order of General Otis
Jurisdiction in all criminal cases eX-
cept those Involving violations of
purely military regulations (sach as
the $50 curfew law is given to the
native courts. One of the first cases
tried under the new regime was that
of native who had robbed and MUIR
dered a Chinaman. After much tes-
timony, recorded in full long hand by
the secretary of the court. and weigh
ty elaboration by the worthy justice,
the decision was rendered-that the
defendant should pay fine of 81.
1t was only Chinaman.
Equally unique was the verdict in
the case of a half dozen Cinnamon
who in an out of the way place in the
burned district of San Nicolas, had
beaten, robbed and strung up by the
neck one of their own countfymen.
The hapless celestial was rescued by
several soldiers just ia time to save
his life His assailants were captured
red handed and next day brought be-
fore the native justice of that district.
Two of them were fined 50 each and
the others dismissed, whereas the vic
tim himself was sent to jail for five
days on charge OF trespassing.
From the result of these two trials
- ;e- Iat al ba
six Cinnamon made in not hiring Fill
pifos to do the job. 1t would have
been cheaper and much more effective.
One of the secretaries of the American
Philippine commission, while driving
the other day accidentally run into
and smashed a ''quilez7 incidentally
spelling it and the personal appear
ance of the latter's eoachman. The
owner Of the demolished vehicle and
the dlsfigured jehu promptly caused
the arrest of the secretary. Without
giving the defendant chance to pre-
sent any testimony, hearing only the
stories of the prosecuting witness, the
Filipino justice before whom the case
was tried, assessed the secretary $50.
''Tell him | won't pay it, remark
ed the secretary through an interpre-
ter to his honor, for Spanish is the
only official court language.
every Well,n was the urbane re-
Spouse, "We will try the case over
again tomorrow"
The second hearing resulted more
favorably for the defendant this time
and he was allowed to present his side
of the affair and was fined but $40.
Tell him l won't pay cent" said
the defendant and he did not, for the
case was again tried, resulting in a
dismissal. The three hearings had
occupied an entire week
Two native thugs had robbed ma
tive employed by one of the govern
ment contractors. The case was TO
be called at o'clock the next morn
ing. AS the prosecuting witness was
five minutes late in making his APP
pearance the Judge set the prisoners
free. When Arellano, the native pres
ident of the supreme court, heard OF
1T he at once took steps to have the
case properly tried.
All Manila is laughing at these
traveSties on justice.
The foreign residents, especially
Englishmen strenuously object to the
whole institution, many declaring
that should it be necessary they will
appeal to their home governments
through the consuls rather than sub
nit to being tried by the native
courts. In the entire judicial ma
chinery the Americans have but three
representatives, those in the supreme
court. In this body there are six
natives majority of three. In the
lower tribunals justices of the peace
and courts OF the first instance-na-
tive talent alone is employed. That
the f1llpinos will not be backward in
asserting their claims to the largest
possible form OF autonomistic govern
ment under American sovereignty is
evidenced by the united effort made
by the local college of native lawyers
to bar American barristers from prac-
ticing ia the native courts. A petit
ton signed by all the members of this
college, headed by the name of Arella-
no himself was presented to the su-
preme court asking that only members
of the college be permitted to practice
in the Philippines. Judge Crowder,
however, quickly made it plain that
Gen. Otis would never countenance
such a move. There are already a
dozen American lawyers in Manila
and more are on the way. The Fill
nnos were successful nevertheless