The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-03-30
HUMOROUS FEATURES IN
LIFE OF ONE OF TExAS'S
MOST FAMOUS CHARACTERS.
The Republic Bureau.


Washington, March 2s.-The death last
week of Roy Bean. known as the Law
West of the Pec5s," at his home in Lang
try, Tex, recalls some features in the life
of one Of the most famous characters OF
What is now the Southern Pacific was be-
ing constructed across an unbroken desert
from Los Angeles to San Antonio. The
Southern Pacific people were building east
ward from FL Paso. while the Galveston.
Harrisburg and San Antonio road was being
pushed westward from San Antonio to form
80 miles west of the Alamo City, at
point near Langtry. where Tor twenty
years Rey Bean made his home. and few
missed an opportunity when trains stopped
for meals at Langtry to mako the acQuaint-
arce of the famous Judge.
.'VINEGARONE' THE METROPOLIS
Adventures from all over the. country
swarmed in and soon 'vinegsrcne" became
the metropolis. 1t was strictly canvas
day on barren hill, mile or SO west OF
the Pecos, and very near where Its muddy
alkali water flows into the Rio Grande.
Conditions had become unbearable to tho
law-abiding element when q number Of con-
tractors started a movement to have the
Governor appoint Justice OK the Peace ior
that end of Crockett County. But the petit
toners neglected one very important pre-
caution. In their zeal TO have the court
created they failed TO recommend JuoSe
to preside over it.
Among the adventures who were early
on the scene was Roy Bean Settling IN san
Antonio and marrying u Mexican woman, ne
was soon as typical "A Greaser as could pc
found He opened combined saloon. gam
bling-room and dance hall In one OF the
Mexican quarters of town known as bean
VILE and acquired great influence over his
swarthy friends and at election times his
influence was eagerly sought by local poll
tioians.
was forwarded to Austin Roy left for San
Antonio. and while every one knew that
both his interests and tncllnanons were
could prevent II. Neither did Roy; put ne
decided to be the Judge. He called on san
Antonio politicians who were under oDhga ga,
to work at once and head on them du9es.
They were nothing loath to pay their deots
by making Roy Justice go miles away
IRONCLAD JAG.
To celebrate his newly acquired honors
Roy took on a jag that for durability ana
strcnuosity is referre to as record
breaker for West i, Texas cns,,,. had ,r.cea.d
him. and the whole population OF Vine
sarone'' turned out to welcome the hing
to snfre nFne The men rRe M
sponsibie for the new aspect Of judicial at.
fairs we're dazed for awhile, and at first
decided to send Sec 80 Inc 20
an effort to get the court under the IN
fiuence Of the law-abidinR element rather
than permit him to be guided by the law
This course was a wise one, for 1t must
be said in his favor that. while his decisions
still as rule, they Were on the side OF
1t was mooted question. whether he
he developed a chronic habit Of losing his
specs" when a written document was
handed him.
The court clerk was Roy's bartender. and
a monte dealer was Constable.
When prisoner was brought, in the
court would order monte table cleared,
take the dealers chair. and court was open.
His usual manner Of procedure was to say:
jim clear of your table for minute, |
until find out If this sport has any d.
nero fmoney). If he had, II WAS soon In |
possession OF the court II he had none. he !
was discharged for there was no Jail. ex-
cept a mesquite tree with chain attached |
and only murder and horse stealing cases
were sent to Fort Stockton.
LAW WEST OF THE PEcoS"
A waggish lawyer in San Antonio gave |
him an old copy of the Revised Statutes. |
Tepeaied and when some embryo ar SCION
would call his attention to this. he would |
say: Lock here sonny, Lawyer Teel give |
than hs i You ever inowed. what he says is !
good enough for me, and as long as am /
ledge that book Is the law west Of the |
Pecos.'
There Is no doubt about his havin: SEN |
fenced the first murderer brought before |
him to be hanged. nor of his indignation on
that 1t was the province OF higher court |
to infiict the death penalty.
But there Amt no court higher than me
this side OF Stockton, and there's no sense
in putting this State to all that expense
when everybody knows he ought to be
hung.
WORLD-FAMED DECISION.
Equally true IL the oft-told story OF an
Inquest held over the body Of a man, who,
preferring suicide to living under trans
Pecos law, jumped from a high trestle to
the rocks beneath. After hearing the tes-
timony which disclosed the fact that $40 in
money and six-sheoter were found on the
person of the deceased. the court rendered
It's world famous decision:
There's no doubt that the prisoner killed
himself, and can't find no law against
man doing that II he wants to: but I do
find a law against his toting dx-shooter
IN q peaceabfe community like this. I fne
him 80 for carrying concealed weapons and