The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1901-04-11
The YAKIMA HERALD.
THURSDAY. APRIL II. 1901.
LOCAL S|OR|ETTES.

A number OF good stories are told on
Judge Beck, the well-known citizen of
this city, who for number of years adj
minstered justice in the old county cap
ital before North Yakima was conceived
by the railroad officials. 1t was away
back before railroad times, so the story
goes, that man was tried before Judge
Beck for stealing horses. The thief was
promptly and Justly found guilty OF the
charge with all the grace and dignity
that could be summoned into court of
Justice in the ante railroad days. The
Judge deliberated long time over the
matter of imposing sentence. 1t was a
difficult question to handle under the
circumstances. He could not sentence
the prisoner to Jail for the crime, which
was 'penitentiary' offense, and should
he sentence him to confinement in
Walla Walla prison the expense of
transporting him thither would be $3.50,
more than either the stolen horse or
man was worth and would also bear
heavily on the county exchequer. The
Judge put the matter off as long as he
legally could and then called the pris-
oner up for sentence and addressed him
as follows. "My man, l hardly know
what to do with YOU; guess I'll have
to Danish you. The verdict of the hon.
orable court is that you go hence and
return no more"
On another occasion the body of a
drowned man found in the Yakima
river was taken before the squire. In
the clothes of the victim were found
five dollars in money and a revolver.
The Judge held an inquest and as no
friends of the dead man showed up to
claim the remains the question arose as
to what could be legally done with the
money and revolver. Finally the judge
solved the question by timing the victim
IS for carrying concealed weapons and
the city confiscated the revolver.
"Whether it is luck, or chance, or
something else more inexplicable, l will
not say, but nevertheless, some men are
cut out to be in hard luck at one time or
another in life," said J. +. Newton,
Northern Pacific claim agent, to the
Story Teller few days ago. 81 had
been up the road ways adjusting some
matters pertaining to my branch of the
railway service, and had occasion to
tramp ties for few miles. You see
have free pass over the ties and was
not held up by any Of the gangs be-
tween here and Ellensburg more than
once, and that was by Henry Yancy's
crowd of good looking fellows with brand
new picks and shovels. Well, as came
in sight OF these paddles, as we used
to call them, my attention was attracted
by the sombre hue Of blue that clothed
one of the men in striking contrast to
the outfits worn by the others. When
came up to the gang saw the striking
outfit was nothing more nor less than
the uniform OF man. of-war sailor. 1t
was ludicrous situation he was in and
| could not control smile that crept
over my face. Jackie was swinging a
pick with all the grace (and you know
how much that would be- Of woman.
my names Bob, says he. i was
with Dewey at Manila and one of the
men who was wounded in that fight
Well, that's neither here nor there. |
want to tell you how came to be here,
for believe you are gentleman, too.
got my discharge not long ago and
landed in San Francisco with $500 cash
yes, sir, $500 cash, all in gold. 1t is said
that a fool and his money are soon part
ed, or something like that, and ! guess
it is true for went to Seattle week
ago-and now I'm busted clear and
clean-lost in one OF the joints OF that
town. | want to get back to sea, and so
| am working here to get enough to pay
my railroad fare back to Frisco. Just
watch me; don't | make graceful
paddy pushing the barrow
\ story is being told OF well-known
groceryman, who was practical joker,
as to how he succeeded in building up