The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-12-29
ITS TERRIBLE PREDlcAMENT.
Justice at Fort Cobb is Not Only Blind.
But Hog Tied.

Guthrie, o. T., Dec. pa terrible legal
impasse (to use diplomatic language ex-
its at Fort Cobb, according to the FL
Reno Americas correspondent there. He
describes it thus:
The Fort Cobb justice Of the peace is
| still trying to administer justice, but I'M
| der difficulties. Since the attorney gen.
eral at Washington turned him down in
/ his appeal from the department of the in
/ terror, which refused his requisition for
blanks, he has been obliged TO write out
! his blanks. without even legal form. and
there is no lawyer in town to interpret
the statutes. A few days ago a man came
in and swore out a complaint against a
white man for selling him stolen horse.
The deputy sheriff who was waiting on
this court was going to Norman that day
to settle UP his private business and could
only go out and make the arrest and turn
the prisoner over to the court and he has
rot returned yet. So the court had to
swear in a special constable 10 take care
of the prisoner and wait on the court
But previous to the appointment OF a
special constable, i. a. Davis and an
other party had two horses stolen, and
there being no officer to make the chase,
Mr.. Davis entered the field and tracked
the thieves to Montague county, Texas.
and caught a negro and a white man in
possession of the horses. The horses
were rescued and the sheriff Of Montague
county took charge of the thieves TO
hold them until the Caddo county authori-
ties could come to the rescue with the
proper papers. The justice at Fort Cobb
wired the county attorney to come on the
first train, as we have captured two
horse thieves" BY the next mail the
deputy county attorney wrote that the
county attorney was not in town and
would not be back for four days. IN the
meantime. the Texas authorities may turn
the prisoners loose for want OF papers.
The man first arrested for selling a stolen
horse was bound over to the district
court, and, being tardy. he was com
mitted 10 the care of special constable.
who is holding him yet. A warrant has
been issued by the justice for the Indian
who was the chief actor in stealing the
first horse, but he is in hiding where the
officers cannot find him. although the IN
dian was never known to run away and
was within six miles OF Fort Cobb when
dast heard from Just about the time
the justice was expecting the new gov
ernor would appoint a constable 10 relieve
the Fort Cobb court he received a com
mission from the governor. appointing
the justice constable to wait on his own
court. in which commission it is re-
cited that. reposing confidence ia the (
ability and integrity of the justice named,
he had appointed him constable. or
course, the justice has declined the ap- (
pointment Of constable at the hands Of
Governor Ferguson. because Governor +
jenkins had commissioned him justice
of the peace In the meantime the horse Z
stealing is going on at rapid rate. While
Nfr Davis was IN Texas. chasing the two
thieves. four other desperadoes were seen f
proving over the country IN the neighhor-
hood and broke into an Indians house
and stole everything Of value ia IL that
they could carry away. And II IS thought
they are the same fellows WHO on Sat
urday night. sole four horses from An old
gentleman by the name Of Dodd. leaving
him without team and four miles from
town. His daughter came 70 town U
spend Sunday and attend the church. and
on learning Of the Illness % her mother.
was obliged 81 walk horne Being Christ
mas. some ~ the unru1v cowboys Who
didn't know how q celebrate Christmas.
rode IN and GOT some bo0tlegSer or joint
booze and tried u take tho town in. and
rote OK firing their pistols and soaring
the women and children oat ~ their wits.
But the jlstice SAYS be VII bold the fort
unul heip arrives. although SIX eases ~
horse stealing have already occurred. 81
ais jurisdiction i = Doubtful u there
IS another court IN Oklahoma III such
-re1fca rleut as this