The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1899-09-06
QUEER JUSTICE
Keen Writes of the Manila
Native Courts.
Peculiar Results Of the Establishment
OF Native Officials In Ofiice-Filipin0s
Claim EVERYTHING.

>
MANILA, p. l., July 81 Justice as il
is dealt out by the new Filipino Judges
OF Manila is most peculiar article.
Under recent order OF General Otis
Jurisdiction la all criminal cases ex-
cept those involving violations of
purely military regulations (sach as
the $3.50 curfew law,) is given to the
native courts. One OF the first cases
tried under the new regime was that
OF a native who had robbed and muir
dered 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 a fine of 81.
1t was only a Chinaman.
Equally unique was the verdict 10
the case Of a half dozen Cinnamon
who in an out of the way place ia the
burned district of San Nicolas, had
beaten, robbed and strung up by the
neck one OF their own countrymen.
The hapless celestial was rescued by
several soldiers just in 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 SO each and
the Others dismissed, whereas the vic
tim himself was sent 10 Jail for five
days on charge OF trespassing.
From the result of these two trials
it is readily seen what a mistake the
six Cinnamon made in not hiring Fill
pinos 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 "quilezs incidentally
spelling II and the personal appear
ance OF the latter's coachman. The
owner Of the demolished vehicle and
the dlsflgured 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 $75.
'eTell him | won't pay it, remark
ed the secretary through an interpre-
ter to his honor, for Spanish is the
only official court language.
"Very WE'LL 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 500
Tell him | 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 o'clock the next morn
ing. As the prosecuting witness was
five minutes late in making his ap-
pearance the judge set the prisoners
free. When Arellano, the native pres
ident of the supreme court, heard of
it be at once took steps to have the
case properly tried.
All Manila is laughing at these
travesties on, justice.
The foreign residents, especially
EnglishlneD 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
cbiparv tho p,aricapc bava J,,t ~ roo
representatives, those in the supreme
court. In this body there are six
natives a majority Of three. In the
lower tribunals justices of the peace
and courts OF the first instance ma
tive talent alone is employed. That
the Filipinos will not be backward in
asserting their claims to the largest
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 in 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 SUI
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 move. There are already a
dozen American lawyers in Manila
and more are on the way. The Fill
pinos were successful, nevertheless,
in barring Spaniards and other for
eigners. ED. L. KEEN.