New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-09-28
TEXAS JUDGES JUSTICE.
HOW ROY BEAN, THE LAW WEST OF
THE PECOS." DISPOSES OF GASES
HIS STORY OF A GUILTY" MAN.

better known as the law west Oh inc heNo''
than whom no judge since the days of solomon has
No., -,o-a original MANY make pgrimages to the
little town on the Southern Pacific which Is named
after The Jersey Lily" for the express purpose
of meeting this eccentric justice
He was just starting for a ride "heh New"
Yorker reached the Bean saloon "lio" - 'iie
fountain of justice for district as large as an
Eastern State. He posed for a picture ana tlen
dashed off over the dried plain sitting IN me
saddle as though he were part OF IL ana DIS iuil
of life as a yearng cow puncher WINE ne WIS
riding the New-Yorker spent an hour listening to
stories of his wonderful Of dealing out Justlce
He had not been a justice month before he
distinguished himself by original decision SAID
a Langtry merchant who knows him We'll Ihey
were Just building the railroad ana Bean kept d
progressive saloon. THAI is, he followed the road
builders and at each camp established his par II
was easily done piing up four walls Of loose stone
stretching piece of canvas across them 1or 'le
roof and stringng a board from wall 10 wall 10
serve as a bar He usually named the camps, ana
this one he had called Vinegerone. At the request
Of rho railroad contractor Governor Ireland com
rnissioned him Justice of the peace and gave him
company of rangers to support his authority III d
day or two one of the white bosses shot emma
man Another white man who had grudge to
settle swore out warrant for the arrest OF the
murderer. The rangers brought him into court
followed By all the white men Of the surrounding
camps
We demand immediate trial said the
spokesman OF what was virtually a rescue party
the whites were determined 10 tree the man II
Judge Bean did not.
This here trial won't come off until tomorrow,
said the judge. Stake your horses and make your
selves home
The result was that much good money passed
over Judge Beans bar When he called the court
by climbing upon the bar and hammering upon ii
with the butt OF his revolver he refused to take
testimony. on the ground that he knew all about
the case. anyway, and came almost Immediately to
his decision
81 have examined the statutes. and I can find
nowhere anything which says that II is a crime to
XIII a Chinaman. If any show me that it is
crime I'll hold this prisoner. and If not will let
him go Speak now. or forever hold your peace
so help me God, and forthwith the man was dis
charged
An historic verdict of certain Texas judge deals
with the marriage and divorce of two Mexican
couples. This decision attracted the attention of
higher Couples come from miles in every
direction to have this notorious judge marry them.
1t was considered good luck Among others who
ca me were two Mexican couples The judge married
them with original whiskey drinking ceremony.
In months they appeared again. They had
made mistake. they said. and wanted TO swap
wives
That's easy" said the Judge tn divorce you"
He gave the necessary decision in open court and
collected SO from each of the men The Mexicans
then changed wives and started home satisfied.
They did not get beyond hearing before the judge
called them back
The Mexicans protested. but the judge insisted
it was against the law. The brought TO
the attention OF the judge OF another court. who
ITS ali right this time but for Gods sake don't
divorce any more couples
There is a certain Texas judge who has one sort
of justice for his friends and another for those he
try telegraph operator got into trouble with a
Mexican citizen he fed TO a neighboring town,
like him. The Mexican swore out warrant but
the constable was unable to it When the
word to his friends:
Tell him to come back: I'll take care Of him.
l don't like him over much. but l hate that Mexi-
The next day the Mexican came to the judge.
say wing the young man had returned and demand
ing his arrest. The judge shook his head, and
4 issued one warrant for him. 1t was returned
be twice put in jeojardy of his life
Attorneys from R Houston S sometimes appear before
he gets through with them They quote the statutes
but the Judge G Se ssy shem da6t want ANYTHING
do with that sort OF thing Those laws were made
by men Of Texas ia have You know that IN R fS
bean. am the law west of the Pecos.'
~ before they were through with these and other
stories the Judge returned from his ride and took
SO you're from New-York, are your" he ques-
toned well. one of the .grittiest chaps 1 ever
met came from ont that p6 burg der,,nao,
friends 49,, ,..,,o...
an Ir1du
Perhaps you've heard OF his brother Ed 1t was
when was younger and running a saloon out at
az thousand and women. most of them pretty
tough gathered around the old mission for a days
rode in from Los Angeles about noon and put UP at
HEED his looks from the first. Soon one Of the
tonehs noted bully and bad man, came in. He
iooH Wei, whar in he'll did you blow in from?
II came from New-York said young Stokes,
ae!e i Just don't know whar New-York is. but
reckon it's up North somewhat, whar you prizes the
The sun never sets in NewYork,' was stokess
a"ff lit enraged the man VINO declared he was the
"t WY was the bioodiest in the Cherokee Ma
ton he howled; I'm halfbreed Cherokee am
solder at Fort Yuma. Been here three weeks and
Mexicans a funeral. If you open your mouth III
MI young Stokes laughed in his face Please Mr..
Be keerfuI stranger; I shoot cut and kill
Il was watching it all from behind the bar I
liked the chap ana SIPS sd nun VIZ gun without the
You are not dangerous. said Stokes. You
"D with that the bad man jumped into the air.
Git out OF the way: I'm going to shoot
The crowd scattered. but as the bad man reached
given him against his breast Hold up Your hands s
or FL XII VIA YG" 6f s held up He obeyed an order
to unbucke his cartridge belt and let his revolver
NOW. take your position in that corner or
6sred Stokes calling for a cigar and lighting -
He puffed in silence until 1t was burning freely
keeping the bad man covered all the while. I am
going to stick the fiery end Of this cigar to your
goes out. If you move the Mexicans viii have a
funeral
He carried out the, threat; announcing to the
admiring crowd that he could whip any man in
Texas who did not like him.
The old justice can tell western stories by the
hour and when he dies Texas will lose one of her
characters. He il a kentuckian hr
birtn from the year 1879, but his childhood was
spent in Missouri He has been in the Southwest
since 1876