Sioux County pioneer. (Fort Yates, Sioux County, N.D.) 1914-1929, 1917-12-06
JUSTICE IN China BRAIN AND Drawn
District Magistrates Are Both
Judge and Jury.
Story Of Oriental Solomon Who Used
Basket as Witness Throws Light
on Court Methods.

The men who really govern China
and who make life happy or miserable
for the people are the district magls-
trntes. There are about fifteen >hun-
dred of them in all. These men unite
in themselves many various offices.
They are coroners, sheriffs, tax collec'
tors, road surveyors and forest COM
missioners. They are superintendent
of schools and Ovcrseers Of the poor,
and they are at the head Of the state
religion. and worship ut the temples
on specified days. There is scarcely
any matter into which they may not
pry and for which they are not held
responsible.
The administration of Justice Is In
their hands. In the court of Justice
there are no juries, lawyers or men
who nrc entitled to speak for the Gull
prit. The parties to the suit. whether
civil or criminal, knecl before the mag
istratc, who, sitting in his official chair,
asky such questions as he sees fit, and
rs COON MS he thinks he has discovered
the truth, brings in his verdict. Either
party may appeal; still, as the expense
of lawsuit Is higher proportionally
than in America, that Is not often
done.
1t will at once he apparent that such
a man must possess Il keen mind, a
good knowledge of human nature, and
be fertile in cxpcdients. Above all, he
must be man of decision; not be-
cause immediate action is required, but
in order to sustain his own dignity
and command the respect of the
people. The magistrate who hesitates
is dcspiscd.
Some years ago a Chinaman who
owned a mill where he pressed oil
from beans was visited by neighbOr,
who came to borrow an immense bas-
ket used by the oil man to receive
the bean refuse after the oil had been
extracted. The Chinese are quite
nci@hborly, so the request was grant
ell. and the ncighbor, who was miller,
carried the basket home to use for
holding bran.
Time went on and the following fall
the oil man asked for the return Of the
basket. TO his surprise, the miller
claimed the basket as his own. In
spite of the fact that there We're no
witnesses, the oil man went to law,
and the case came before the district
magistrate.
The magistrate asked each man to
tell his story, which he did. Each man
also acknowledged that he could not
produce witnesses. The magistrate
recognized that his own reputation was
at stake, and also that 1t was case
where righteous decision would
greatly enhance his reputation. He
did not hesitate.
"Bring in the basket" he said. He
Ind already determined in his own
mind that in all probability the oil man
was in the right, for he felt that no
man in his senses would be likely to
30 to law about so cheap an article
unless it were really his.
AS soon as the basket was brought
In. the magistrate, with severe frown
addressed it in these words: "Mr. Bas.
ket, each of these two men here in
court claims you as his own property
There are no witnesses as to which is
telling the truth. Now I order you to
tell us to which of them you belong
What, you remain silent! Are you not
aware that am the magistrate Of this
county? If you do not reply at once,
shall order you to be severely pun
ished! Still silent! Here, sergeant
get your paddle, turn over this basket
and give him hundred blows!"
The underlings who were present
had great difficulty in keeping theil
faces straight, but they had to obey
and accordingly the man who was
wont to use the stick for beating un
willing witnesses proceeded to beat the
basket. He had not delivered many
blows before the oil, which had beer
concealed by the bran, began to ooze
forth.
"Hold on" said the magistrate
shat is enough! thought should
make this basket speak. 1t is evident
that he belongs to the oil man. Take
out the miller and give him five hun.
dred blows, and you, Mr.. Oil Man
carry home your basket."-Youth's
Companion.
Flower Names.