Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-05-05
NO. SO.

Rio Grande. This town became the
Vinaegaron Of border history. Vinea-
garon is the Mexican name OF a VEN
| omous insect.
1t was at Vinaegaron that Bean ac-
quired the title Of Judge, he being ap-
pointed justice Of the peace. Here 1t
was that he handed down his famous
decision affecting the Chinese. An
American had shot and killed q Chi
naman. He was hailed before the
Judge for trial and the courtroom was
crowded with his friends, for he was
the preliminaries announced: Gents,
1 have looked carefully through my
Blackstone, and through the statutes
Of the state of Texas, and l find no law
against killing a Chinaman. The de-
fendant is therefore acquitted"
Another case that brought the Judge
great deal of notoriety was this: "A
man with too much liquor aboard fell
from bridge and was killed. The
Judge, as coroner, viewed and searched
about $40 in money. AS coroner he
found that the man came to his death
by falling from the bridge. AS judge
he announced: I find this man is
carrying a concealed weapon against
the statutes in such cases provided and
against the peace and dignity of the
state of Texas, and therefore fine
him $25 and costs Needless to say
the fine and costs killed that $40."
Uncle" Dick Freeman, now a mer-
and received the six-shooter as his fee.
He next moved his saloon and court
to what is now Langtry, Texas. Here
he established his Jersey Lily" saloon
and constituted himself Law West of
the Pecos," and at that time his was
the only law between the Pecos and
El Paso.
An amusing case, showing Judge
Beams willingness to do what's right,
as well as reap what he considered his
just dues, came about in this wise:
Two Mexican couples came to him to
be married. The following Is the
judges ceremony for the first couple:
"Gregorio, you want to marry this
woman?"
"Si, senor"
"Juanita, you want to marry Gre
gorio?"
Isl, senor."
"All right, according to the power in
me vested by the state Of Texas, pro-
nounce you man and wife. Five dol
lars apiece, please"
So they were married. But q few
days later the same two couples came
back and announced that they were
convinced they had made mistake as
each man desired the others wife, and
they wanted the Judge to fix them UP.
He could for $40. This they were able
to produce. So after asking the wo-
men If the exchange was agreeable to
them, he said:
Very we'll, you are divorced"
Then followed a repetition of the
first wedding ceremony, not omltting
the judges usual fee in such cases.
Some of the signs the Judge had
posted on his buildings were unique.
These were so posted as to catch the
eye OF passengers on the trains. AS
all train stopped at Langtry for wa
ter, It allowed time for a brief visit to
Beams, and many thirsty pilgrim has
quenched his thirst in the old Jersey
Lily" For even though court was In
session in the barroom 1t would al
ways postpone action until customer
was waited on.
One sign read: Judge Roy Bean,
Notary Public" another Justice Of
the Peace, Law West of the Pecos;"
another The Jersey Lily Saloon, Bill
lard Hall, Ice Cold Beer" The judge,
when a customer complained that the
beer had evidently not been on the ice.
remarked, Whoever heard tell Of Ice
in the summer time" On another
building was this: Roy Beans Opera
House, Town Hall and Seat Of JUS
tice," and below it, Judge Roy Bean,
Justice of the Peace, Notary Public,
Marries Couples, etc."
The Judge died in bed, attended by
one or two friends and several pets
an eagle, mountain lion and bear
March, 1902 aged II years.
A few years after Judge Beans
death Lillian Langtry passed through
the town on one Of her farewell tours.
The train was held to allow her to Wis
it the judges place. She evinced much
interest, and took a few poker chips
and cards as mementos, as well as an
old shooter that had belonged to
Judge Bean. Before leaving she pre-
sented the Langtry school with $50, to
be used to repair the building.
Langtry now boasts modern school
building, good homes with flower gar
dens, a tennis club and mothers
club, and above all law and order, so
that the Judge would not recognize his
old town were he to return, except for
his old building, which still stands and
still bears some of the old signs
Langtry, Texas, special to New York
Sun.