Arizona republican., 1901-05-20
THE KANGAROO COURT
One Place in the World Where Laws
 Are Respected.

Jesus Maria Quihuls. who wao sem fenced to serve a hundred days in the county jail. was pardone d Saturday by Governor Murphy on a petition signed by the district attorney. the committing magistrate and large number of Tempe people. He had served a considerable portion of his sentence.
 =, ,Quihuls hao been an exceptionally goG@, prisoner and had not been long in jaii. before he was chosen as judge of the kspgaroo court He made an excellent official and it Is said of him that no guilty and very few innocent persons escaped. His pardon of course necessitated a new election of officers of the kangaroo court. Qulhuis was also trusty around the jail and when he was discharged John Mabray was promoted 10 that position. Mabray had previously served as sheriff of the court. but his duties outside the cell corridor necessi- tated hi:' resignation. for he might be called upon for action some time when he could not get in. and then. too. it would be Q lowering of the dignity of L spent a good part of his time mixing up with common freemen.
 So Popcorn John was selected for sheriff The first court session held after the election was yesterday after . noon. when Marcus Estrada broke in- to jail. The sheriff was asked to search him for deadly weapons or other valu- ables. John went through him and chided him first because there was nothing in his pockets but holes. Then turning to the court he announced: There is nothing in him; he wa: rolled before he got in here.''
 A great deal has been said and writ ten about the kangaroo court and the general public has an idea that it Is an institution solely to aid the prison CTS in killing time. As a matter of fact it is a good thing and every well reg ulated .ail has a kangaroo court. In- stead of attempting to break up the in- stitution the jail officials as rule en- courage it. An official of the sheriffs office said yesterday that In the Mari copa county jail the prisoners have a most excellent set of rules and enforce them as rigidiy as are the rules of a military academy. As a result the jail i.' as neat as a pin and is always kept in good order. In all jalls there are a number of men who, while they may have violated the laws Of the land are nevertheless neat and gentlemanly in tleir personal department and cleanly in their habits. From the very nature Of things they are not accorded a great measure of privacy. Frequently drunk en, filthy and unkempt men, and often- times vermip infested. are thrust among them. Only by these self made aal self onfor, ed rules can the prison CTS maintain good health say nothing about personal cleanliness Taeir rules, too, usually carry with them a humor- ous feature while enforcing very practical lesson. It is necessary to im- press upon each new prisoner from the start the dignity of the kangaroo court and the understanding that It's man dates must be obeyed.
 For that reason every man who enters muo; be charged with crime on which a conviction can be secured and the penalty at once made effective. Later trials follow when made neces- sary by any violation of the rules. The rules in the Mar.copa county jail are all written in legible hand and the clerk of the court is a man doing time for writing somebody else's name on a check. He is therefore clerically com petent and knows how business ought to be dcne. Rule l reads: Any per son breaking into this jail without the consent of the inmates shall be tried. to , fine rot to exceed $5 and Tot less than S2.50 if he shall have left that much money on deposit with the county sher- fir. If he has not so much money the judge shall fine him all the money he has. and if he has no money he shall be allowed to work his fire out on the floor
 Needless to remark conviction is al- ways secured under rule l. Working his fine out on the floor means that it shall be the duty of the convicted to lay hold of a cloth after the serving of each meal and wipe up the floor where coffee or grease has been spilled, as- :.st in scrubbing the little iron corridor and other menial services. but services that lead to the health and happiness of the jailblrds
 Other rule:' provide that each inmate shall take bath once a week and more cftcn If necessary and shall preserve reasonable decorum in his work of do- ing nothing An inmate spitting on the floor instead of in cuspidor. or splitting between the grates, or guilty of any other uncleanly practice IS dealt with as the judge may see fit and his rule is