Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1905-08-25

ok Of : aw LAD ~ Esrt or Of 1hsm,
Go It VS. 10 Game 70
Ia.

Fer may years there u Ar primitive
! US, 70 Ct tns peace VINO aorinistereo
aw. eqL.ty AIT traction am1ng tn
4ali breeds in the Cactus regions along
The Pho tiraace In Texas west OF the
PecCs river He Nas famous IN south
western lsaend Tor mis- oriGifsal and abo-
rieinal acJuci catlo.-s and metEodR A
client who had ranchel it IN the Jus
tees bailwick fer many years and per-
sonaily knew him gaze me the facts, re-
iates Chicago lawyer. in the Daily
fJews.
Mexicans predominated in that sec
ton and among the Mexicans he was
known as the alcalde. Spanish name
for dispenser Of justice They loohed
up to him as q judicial dictator. In ad-
clifton to his minor duties he used to hear
their matrimonial discussions, grant d.
Yorces and dispense such other "equita-
BILE relief as to the court seemed meet. .
which IVES received with Que creGence
and reverence. lie arrested men for
breaches of contract and exacted fees
for his services In settling the matters.
His word was Law among them and there
vas 10 appeal. First, appeal was be-
ycnd their comprehension and, second
ly. it was practically beyond reach, for
the forum and facilities for appeal were
too distant
Neither the alcalde nor his constitu-
ents were sticklers about legal formali-
ties. Documents and processes were not
insisted upon as essentials in his court.
He would send out his constable to en-
force his demands with verbal execu-
lions and especially to collect judgments
for costs, which were honored the same
as though engrossed on parchment and
sealed with the great seal of the state.
II necessary he would impress into the
service OF the court pri, ate property by
the same kind OF process. Thus. he di-
rected his constable on one occasion to
so forth after distant raIchero and col
lect delinquent assessment The con-
stable having no broncho at hand. the
thoughtful alcalde directed him to
mount the brcncho OF another ranchero
that was tied up to post v lille Its own
er was refreshing himself atthe grocery
: Soon the owner of the appropriated
i for his steed. and naturally, with high
Indignation. sought the alcalde for some
process of relief. But that sublime
functionary informed him with much
dignity that his property was engaged
In necessary services Tor the state; that
Ii deemed proper the state could impress
him into service as well as his broncho,
and that the Inconvenience he was sub
iected to resulted from the obligations
he assumed IN becoming a citizen Of thu
glorious republic
nhis earlier judicial career the alcaide
was unable to read. Whenever reading
was necessary element IN adjudication
his bartender oflciated. Later his
daughters taught him TO read. He 1t
was that mace one OF those famous de-
eisions relating to homicide when the
victim Glanced to be a Chinaman. A
cowboy shot Chinsmau who wandered
out Of his beat and some Of the citizens
arrested the offender and brought him
before the aicalda After hearing a
statement as to the nature Of the Incl
ce2t he called for his book of the law.
With puzzled air he iumbled long over
the volume. Then. with the conscious
assurance Of enc who has solt ed an in
| tr.cate problem, he announced the result
| OF his research as follows:
Il can't frd nothin' nowhar In this
| here book whar II SAYS that 1t Is agin
the statoot to Kill Cninaman The de-
PENDANT is discharged"