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Over
the years, small-town newspapers have found it necessary to supplement the local
news with other sources of material to help fill up their pages. In the old days,
when there weren’t a lot of newsworthy events taking place, the local paper would
fill space with features or magazine-type material.
Way back in 1924,
The Moulton Eagle (Moulton,
Texas) was presenting a column called “Tales of the Old Frontier” which was
written by a fellow named Scott Watson. It is probable that the paper subscribed
to an outside source and received this article on a weekly basis. I found Watson’s
stories to be entertaining but in some cases not exactly “historically accurate.”
However, the following story about Judge
Roy Bean is quite humorous and is the subject of this month’s Lone Star Diary.
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The Jersey Lilly Saloon and Judge Roy
Bean's courtroom in Langtry
Postcard courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/ |
“Law West Of The
Pecos” The
Moulton Eagle – March 21, 1924
You
will look in vain for Eagle’s Nest on the map of Texas
today, for the town of Langtry
(named for Lillie Langtry of theatrical renown) has taken its place. But in the
old days of 40 years ago Eagle’s Nest was famed for just one thing – a saloon.
On the front of this building was a sign which read “Judge
Roy Bean, Justice of the Peace, Law West of the Pecos.”
For this “red eye” emporium was also the temple of justice for a domain
of thousands of square miles, and over it ruled Roy
Bean, a king in his own right, whose scepter was a Colt .45-caliber pistol.
He was the only justice of the peace in western
Texas and he was equipped only with a copy of the Ohio statutes of ancient
vintage, a sense of fair play and a strong belief in his ability to interpret
the law as it should be, whether it was written that way or not.
He was
judge, jury and lord high executioner and there was no appeal from his decisions.
Once two Mexican couples came to him and announced that they wanted to trade life
partners. The judge questioned them closely, found them all of the same mind,
charged each of the men $15 and a dozen bottles of beer and pronounced the job
done. Some time later a state official complained to Bean
that in granting this unconventional divorce he had exceeded his authority.
“Why,
say!” exclaimed His Honor indignantly. “Have I ever butted into your affairs?
They wanted to swap, they paid me, they’re livin’ perfectly happy and nobody ‘round
here has found fault. You just go back to Austin
and handle your courts the way you want, but this is out of your jurisdiction.”
Judge Bean’s “Law West of
the Pecos” was uniformly profitable for him. One day an eastern tourist entered
his saloon and ordered a bottle of beer. He laid down a $20 gold piece which Bean
promptly pocketed.
The tenderfoot demanded his change and upon being denied
it started an argument. “Court’s in session,” announced the judge immediately.
“That beer cost you 50 cents and you’re fined $19.50 for disturbing the peace!”
© Murray Montgomery
Lone
Star Diary October
11, 2010 Column
See
Langtry,
Texas | |
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