The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1905-08-17
NOTHING ABOUT CHINAMEN
Book of Law Had No Mention of Them.
So It Was No Crime to
Kill Them.

For many years there was primitive
justice of the peace who administered
law, equity and tradition among the
lalf-breeds in the cactus regions along
the Rio Grande in Texas west of the
PecOs river. He was famous in south
western legend for his original and abO-
riginal adjudications and methods. A
client who had ranched it in the JUS
tees bailwick for many years and per-
sonally knew him gave me the facts, re-
lates a Chicago lawyer, in the Daily
News.
Mexicans predOminated in that Sec
ton and among the Mexicans he was
known as the alcalde, a Spanish name
for a dispenser of justice. They looked
up to him as judicial dictator In adj
dition to his minor duties he used to hear
their matrimonial dissensions, grant di-
vorces and dispense such other 'equita-
which was received with due credence
and reverence. He arrested men for
breaches OF contract and exacted fees
for his services in settling the matters.
His word was law among them and there
was no appeal. First, appeal was be-
yOnd their comprehension and, second
ly, 1t 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 formaIi
ties. Documents and processes " ere not
insisted upon as essentials in his court
He would send out his constable to en-
force his demands with verbal execu-
tions and especially to collect judgments
for costs, which were bonOred 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 private property by
the same kind of process. Thus, he d.
rected his constable on one occasion to
go forth after a distant rancherO and col
lect delinquent assessment The con-
stable having no broncho at hand, the
thoughtful alcalde directed him to
mount the bronchO of another rancherO
that was tied up to a post while its own
er was refreshing himself at the grocery.
Soon the owner Of the appropriated
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 for the state; that
If deemed proper the state could impress
him into service as well as his broncho,
and that the incOn yenience he was sub
jected to resulted from the obligations
he assumed in becoming a citizen of this
glorious republic.
In his earlier judicial career the alcalde
was unable to read. Whenever reading
was necessary element In adjudication
his bartender of1iciated. Later his
daughters taught him to read. He it
was that made one of those famous de-
cisions relating to homicide when the
victim chanced to be a Chinaman. A
cowboy shot Chinaman who wandered
out of his beat and some OF the citizens
arrested the offender and brought him
before the alcalde. After hearing a
statement as to the nature Of the Incl
dent he called for his book of the law.
With puzzled air he fumbled long over
the volume Then, with the conscious
assurance Of one who has solved an in
tricate problem, he announced the result
of his research as follows:
81 can't find nothin' nowhar in this
here book whar it says that it is agin
the statoot to kill a Chinaman. The de-
fendant is discharged"