The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-09-28
MILLS OF GYPSIES GRIND SLOWLY.
BUT THEY GRIND EXCEEDING FINE
Strange Customs of Noads Are Observed in Strctest De-
taIEAn Incident Wherein Horse Got the
Worst of It by Long Odds.

Encamped in a vacant field on North
Temple street opposite the State Fair
grounds is band of gypsies. number
ing in all about forty-five persons, men.
women and children. They are a band
of people without a home They have
no country. Even the language they
speak Is not their own, but taken from
the Bulgarian, the Austrian and, in
tact, mixture of a dozen or more OF
the languages spoken in the countries
OF southern Europe and northern Az
RIGA. They are the descendants of
some lost Hindu tribe, which lived in
Egypt century or more ago. On ac-
count of their religion, they were driv-
en- from the land of their fathers and
took up their abode in Europe. Being
continually hunted from one country
to another, they have now become a
race of wanderers.
Their language is hard to learn. and
but few people are able to master ii
sufficiently to converse with them.
The gypsy of today is the same gypsy
one reads about in story books when
one was a child, and he has the same
ways
The gypsies follow out the customs
of their forefathers in every possible
way, regardless of the laws of the
country In which they might be. Po-
| lice officers throughout the United
States nave arrested the gypsies by the
hundreds for violating the laws, but
10 them it was their custom and they
will follow all of these customs, though
| they are fined by the courts every
day. There is no power on earth which
will prevent the gypsy from fulfilling
the duties as laid down by his fore
| fathers centuries ago.
An example of the strange fancies
and customs of the nomadic race OF
vagabonds was brought to light Sat
urday when the band of gypsies gath
cred in the saloon of Nick Butkovich
at i2l South Third West street and
prepared a great feast. Three big ia
bles were arranged in the rear of the
saloon and loaded with fruit. vegeta-
bles, fish and wine. To partake OF
the food on the table with the gypsy
was the making of eternal friendship
with him. friendship which no power
can break. The occasion for the feast
ing and merrymaking is explained in
this story:
Are Born Horse Traders.
Seven weeks ago the rovers pitched
camp on Il plain near Billings. Mont.
.
where they put UP tents and told for
lures during the day. Since the be-
ginning of these gypsies. the men have
been horse traders, and they soon be-
gan to dealing in horsefiesh with the
Montana farmers. Joe Marine, one of
the older men, happened one day to
take a fancy to a young and vicious
broncho. which he later purchased for
ths somewhat remarkable price of $3.50.
He was exhibiting the horse the next
day when the animal let go wicked
kick, which landed on Marine, breaking
three ribs. But little was thought of
the accident at the time. but three
days later Marine died of his in
juries.
Broncho on Trial.
The law of the tribe reads that all
living things, whether man or beast,
guilty Of crime. must be punished, and
the kicking broncho was at once
charged with murder in the first de-
gree Mitar Jovanovich was appoint
ed judge, d. Jovanovich acted as at
torney for the state" lick Adams
and Stana Adams We're defending
counsel for the horse. A jury COM
posed of thirty-five men and women
was selected. After two days of trial
the case was given to the jury, which
a N6TQlCl OF guilty Oh
in the first degree. The verdict or
dered that the broncho be hanged by
the neck until he is dead" farmer
living close by heard of the proceeding
and tried to buy the horse. offering the
gypsies SIS. But his efforts were in
vain-the fnse must pay the penalty
of his crime.
Horse In Jeopardy.
Twelve husky members of the band
were appointed to carry out the order
of the court. A rope was secured and
one end tied round the horses neck. The
other end was thrown over a limb of
tree and the execution proceeded.
The horse was not lifted entirely clear
of the ground. for the gyps1es believed
he would strangle to death. But the
horse refused to die and hung by the
neck with his forefeet lifted clear of
the ground for two days. On the even
ing of the second day a committee de-
clared thai a new trial should be given
and at once made their demand to the
judge. A new trial was granted, after
another two days session the broncho
was again declared guilty and SEN
fenced to be shot, which order was car
ried out without any hitch.