The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-12-19
DISPENSED
1CE-COLD BEER
AND ALL LAW
That Is, "All the Law West of
the PecOs"-Held Inquest on
Victim and Tried Slayer
LATER HE WAS FAMOUS
AS A JURY PLEADER
His Greatest Triumph Was in
Securing Acquittal of an
Obvious Murderer

GUTHRIE, Okla, Dec. 19.-'Ice
cold beer and all the law west OF the
Pecos."
So read the sign that hung over the
business place OF Roy Bean, saloon
keeper, justice OF the peace and cor
oner. To the dustcovered traveller he
sold refreshments, and from him Bean
learned the news from the states. His
place was the headquarters, always
after pay day, for the cowboys from
half q dozen ranches. When called
upon to dispense justice he was the
law, and it was all there was west
of the Pecos." His law library con-
sisted of a Massachusetts, statute a
quarter of century old and leather
covered Bible that had come into his
possession when its owner died on a
nearby ranch. The justice acted as
coroner in this instance, and the few
personal belongings, including the
Bible, came to him as fee.
Late in the summer season Bean
was called to try cowboy from the
Double x ranch on charge OF killing
"a Chinaman. The "Chink" had drift
ed into that country from Frisco and
the ranch boss had hired him as cook.
He was the butt of all jokes. Both
his ears were pierced by bullets from
six-shooters OF two cowboys who had
tried to see how close they could
come to his head without killing him,
and he owned peculiar limp as re-
suit OF being lassoed on one occasion
and dragged some distance over the
bunny" prairie. He protested against
such treatment, and 1t developed dur
ing the killers trial that 1t was quar-
rel resulting from the lassoing that
caused the killing.
Bean took down his Massachusetts
statute and carefully looked it
through, while the assembled cowboys
waited respectfully, and then an
nounced his decision:
Il find nothing in here whatever
that makes it a crime for cowboy
to kill Chink, and the said defendant.
Peter Johnson, known otherwise as
Black Pete, is hereby acquitted"
Having announced the verdict and
shaken hands with the acquitted the
justice tied on his apron, stepped be-
hind the bar, and the cowboys bought
many rounds of drinks.
The Chinaman had been killed not
far from Beans place, and after the
cowboys departed the justice be-
thought himself of the dead and de
cided that a coroner's inquest should
be held. The examination revealed
a big six shooter and wallet con-
tanning $25 on the Chinks body. The
result of the inquest was that Bean
fined the dead Chinaman $25 for car
rying a gun and slipped the wallet
into his own pocket.
In later years, following the estab-
lishment of travelling courts OF JUS
tice over the cowboy country, Bean
frequently was attorney for old ranch
friends and for cowboys In general
His lack of law knowledge was more
than made up by his native eloquence,
and IL he could get before a jury any
where in the Panhandle country he
had but little trouble In acquitting
his clients.
He was retained by Sam Thompson,
charged with killing two Mexicans.
There was no doubt about Thompson
guilt. In fact, he had boasted OF his
craftsmanship, only one bullet each
being needed to despatch both Greas-
ers at a distance OF something more
than 100 yards. He had been con
graduated on II by his companions.
Bean demanded trial by jury and got
it. Thompson was arraigned and the
evidence was all against him. The
prosecutor was young lawyer who
accompanied the court, an able attor
ney who relied on the law to win his
legal battles. Bean heard the various
witnesses testify. Practically all q
them were cowboys, and In giving
their testimony they were inclined to
be boastful OF their comrades aim. Il
even developed that perhaps the kill.
ing resulted solely from a desire to
see how far the gun would carry and
kill.
Bean waived witnesses for the de-
tense. Even Thompson did not go on
the stand. What was the use? He
could have but concurred in what the
other cowboys had related. Bean de-