Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-02-24

6ASO uS luS WATCH Wo WOuiu lCI luS
matter drop with that. The reply
was immediate and direct.
"Ah, Senior, we regret that you the
Sonora and the Senorita are inconveni-
enced, but the laws of Mexico are
made to be obeyed, and those who
break them must be punished when
apprehended; we must require that
you make the declaration and that YOU
and the Senorita appear at, the court
in the Castle Belem at noon tomorrow
to testify for the prosecution"
And the watch, when will we get
it?''
ooh, you will get the watch when
you appear to testify in response to a
subpoena that will be handed you
forthwith
To newspaper man this was in
the vernacular Of the sanctum, mighty
worked up first-class SCOOP on
which nobody in all Mexico could beat
me, and in order to test the situation a
little further said:
Suppose we should decide to for
felt the watch and not appear to tes-
tify."
Then, Senior, unless you left the
country without the police seeing you,
you would be apprehended and fincd.. +"
Three Days for Justice.
am frank to say that my mini was
made up; didn't propose to try to
dodge 2,40O policemen, every one Of
them armed with a big gun. We
would appear at the proper time TO tes-
tify against the prisoner, and we did,
though it took up much of two days
time and three trips to Castle Belam
to comply with the requirements. At
the first presentation Of the subpoena
at noon, after an hours wait in line,
the same was checked and | was noti-
: fed at which of the minor or sub
courts to present myself; there was
politely requested to return at 4
O'clock" At o'clock we were advised
that the case had been set for ,.1:30
a. NJ, the following day, when 1t would
be promptly heard, and 1t was, only
fifteen minutes being required for our
testimony, which consisted of a conlir-
nation of the declaration and the iden-
: LITIGATION of the prisoner We were
informed that the prisoner was an old
offender; that he had already been up
! three times, and that they would prob
ably give him five years this time, al
though upon simple charge of petty
larceny the usual sentence is from five
to six months. They were very glad
indeed to have him apprehended.
need not say that the watch was
handed back to us, and that we were
|. hidden a cordial good day. We have
not yet made our trip to Tlalpan
though three days have elapsed since
we started; but we know some things
about Mexican criminal law and meth
!, DDS of procedure that are calculated
!, to give one wholesome respect fol
; the way they do things in this coun
, try when the law3is violated. 1t needs
. but glance at the masses of the Mexi
, can people as they now are, to realize
| that the safety of the situation is IN
, the strong arm that compels respect
r and obedience to the law and the con
, stituted authorities.
, The Public School System.
, The public school system which Is
:. being rapidly extended throughout the
t republic is beginning to do magnifi
. cent work. The effect upon the masses
) of the people is already marked, ant
in another decade the results prom
1 Use to be all but phenomenal. The
s difficulties in the way of establishing
i a public school system have beer
s many, but an official report state.
. that the main obstacles have been oy
e ercome and the country today enjoys
e the benefit of liberal system of ed
|. ucation which is national in its scope
e The system is administered unde
e three branches-gr atuitous, lay ant
obligatory; children from to IL year.
g of age are given an elementary pr
mary education embracing fou
!. courses or scholastic years. The gen
:. eral program for elementary, primary
obligatory education, embraces prac
9 teal morals, civic or laical instrue
!, ton, the national language, includin
writing and reading, object lessons
: arithmetic, the principles of physica
u and natural science, geography, his
L tory of the country, practical notion
> Of geometry, drawing, singing, gym
= nastics and for girls, sewing, etc. &c
ucation is also declared compulsor
!, in soldiers barracks, jails, peniter
= tiaries and all institutions Of corret
y ton. The official figures for 1902 shoN
:. that there were then. 1886 boy.
+ schools, 1884 girls schools, 2,37
s mixed schools, a total of 1853, wit
an average attendance of 631,257. TIL
q government makes constant efforts t
|" improve the standard of education
It and to enforce the precepts Of con
e. pulsory education In one year 500
IS parents or guardians were fined for NJ
l. elect, after being admonished once
le send to school the minors for who's
l. education they are responsible.
ID Constitution and Laws Of Reform
Il. Applying the old rule of judging otl
st ers by ones self, am compelled
" say that in the main the people of til