The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-08-04
JUDGE ROY BEAN AND
 HIS FAMOUS RULINGS
Texas JuriSt and Saloon Keeper Who Has Gained NOtOriety by His Unique Ways of
 Administering Justice.

found a revolver and a time check for $40 payable to bearer. The Judge tlu- paneled a jury, listened to the evidence and brought in verdict of aco1dnntA death. The spectators started to Atsr perse and were called back and 1eAo said, This is not all gen- tlemen." The deceased came to hn his death by accident, but there is aa- other matter to attend to. find upon .he body a revolver and $40. It is con- trary to the laws of Texas and to tne peace and dignity of the State to caEfH concealed wear ems, threfore couns- cate the pistol and fine the decenne0 $40 for this breach of the law" ana he cooIy pocketed the proceeds.
 "I remember in one incident wnWe my decision brought me into cene1ios with higher courts, said Judge ee4 in the course of the interview hA0 married two couples of Mexican en0s by the way, in all this region they won't have anybody to perform the oer- emony but me. In a month or two they came back, said they could noQ agree, and wanted to sswap' waveS. listened to the recital of their marttsA rows and then with pretense of cer- emony declared them divided cot- lected $15 from each husband, ana they started away, the women simply changing husbands. called them back and informed them this was contrary to law and before they would be legally man ana wife, they would have e be remarked. I performed thO Odouh1e Cqx- emony and charged them $5. ufAen Judge Falvey of Hl Pase. who sat upon the bench in the same district heaSd q the affair he wrote me: "It ts ell sighS this time. but for Gods sake donS d. vorce any more couples without see- ing me-
 There used to be a young telegrAph operator at Langtry who got into some trouble with a Mexican, and fearing Bean would give him a severe paptsh- ment, fled to Sanderson. The Mextcau8 swore out a warrant, but the operator was gone. Bean walked down to the station and asked what had become ok the operator. The agent told htn he fled for fear of punishment. "shaw, said Bean, "have him come back and will take care of him." The next day the young operator returned and the lMexicans at once demanded his arr rest, but the Judge with his usual dig nity informed him that as the .g hrst warrant had been returned unsatisfted. the constable not being able to serve 1t, d second warrant could not be issued, as the law declared that man could not twice be put in jeopardy of
 
 One of the Judges favorite and prof ftable methods of punishment is to fine the convicted party, where the offense is not grave, a couple of dozen bottles ] of beer, which of course are bought ana paid for at the rate of 50 cents per bottle. There was Mexican by the name of Terreone who ran an opposi- tion saloon, and naturally he and Judge Bean were bitter rivals. Terreone was arrested a short time ago by fellow citizen whom he assaulted. He de- manded a jury trial and after a good deal of effort enough men were se- cured to fill the panel. When the evil dence was all in, the jury deliberated for some time and finally returned a verdict of guilty and fixed the fine at two dozen bottles of beer. Pleased at getting eff So easily, the Mexican jumped up and saidy 2" All right boys. come over to my place and have the
 beer" "No you don't" interpesed Judge Bean promptly and firmly. eThe fines imposed in this court are paid
 here, and don't you forget it." and he compelled his rival to patronize the
 courts bar. and pay full retail prics. Such decisions and law will strikestha | reader as absurd, ,aand perhaps they are
 not accepted as the truth. but these facts are too we'll known to be d1s-
 puted and have gone down in history as
 local traditions These decisions may not appear on record In the court de- cisions of Texas, but they had whole | some effort in preserving the dignity | of the law, enforcing order fin the | county where might makes right and
 man is the highest law.
 Judge Roy Bear has considerable
 natural ability. conducting his court on the some principles of law that actu- ated Solomon's decisions.
 w. M. B.