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THE alcalde's COURT. 233 



reply, that functionary Seclared, " que el go- 

 hierno cree arreglado el reparto de sus respectivas 

 contribuciones" — ^the government believes your 

 respective contributions in accordance with 

 justice — which concluded the correspond- 

 ence, and the Americans paid their twenty- 

 five dollars per month. 



The only tribunals of 'justice' in New 

 Mexico are those of the ordinar}'- alcaldes or 

 justices of the peace ; and an appeal from 

 them is carried to the Supreme Court in the 

 department of Chihuahua. The course of 

 htigation is exceedingly simple and summa- 

 ry. The plaintiff makes his verbal complaint 

 or demand before the alcalde, who orders him 

 to summon the defendant, which is done by 

 simply saying, " Ze llama el alcalde" (the al- 

 calde calls you) into his presence, the appli- 

 cant acting thus in the double capacity of 

 constable and complainant The summons 

 is always verbal, and rarely for a future time 



instant attendance being expected. Should 

 the defendant refuse to obey this simple man- 

 date (which, by the bye, is a very rare occur- 

 rence), the alcalde sends his baston de jmticia, 

 his staff of justice, an ordinary walking-cane, 

 distinguished only by a pecuhar black sUk 

 tassel. This never fails to enforce compli- 

 ance, for a refusal to attend afler being shown 

 the staff, would be construed into a contempt 

 of court, and punished accordingly. The 

 witnesses are sometimes sworn upon a cross 

 cut on the haston de justicia, or more fre- 

 quently, perhaps, upon a cross formed with 



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