Judges have been around for a long, long time. Solomon received his plaudits for great wisdom as he ruled as a judge. God is the Great Judge we will all stand before at some unknown future time.
In the early days of Texas a man named Roy Bean became one of our more colorful judges. Bean started out as a merchant in San Antonio. He was run out of town when some of his customers found minnows in the milk he sold them. He claimed the cow had been drinking from a nearby creek. He made his new home in Langtry, Texas, and got himself appointed as justice of the peace, with the help of some Texas Rangers. Now, justice of the peace is not usually an office of great power, but it was in Langtry. He became known as "Law West Of The Pecos". Some of the stories told of him are legend. Truth may not be involved in many of these tales. Bean bought a copy of "Revised Texas Statutes" and made his rulings from interpretations based on that book.
It is said he once fined a corpse $40.00 for carrying a concealed weapon. When he made up his mind on a case he always said, "By gobs that's my ruling". The Governor of Texas once wrote him a letter asking for an accounting from his court. He sent the answer: " Dear Governor, You run things up in Austin, and I'll run things down here. Sincerely, Roy Bean".
I have a picture hanging in my "Texas Room" of the judge at work on the front porch of his improvised courthouse. Judge Bean is sitting on a barrel and the defendant, with sombrero in hand is awaiting his verdict. Signs posted read "ice - beer". "notary public", "lilly langtry", etc. He is trying a horse thief. Men on horseback are poised nearby prepared for the hanging, if that is the ruling. The year is 1900. Judges have power.
Judge Roy Bean had a motto ARGUMENTUM ADJUDICUM. He translated it to mean, "Don't argue with the judge", and very few ever did. You can visit this building today in Langtry and sit on the front porch. You can see the bullet holes in the ceiling. It is easy to get the feel of times when "Law West Of The Pecos" ruled in South Texas.
