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Tinderbox

SOMEONE was persistently milking John Hatch's cow without permission, depriving the family of milk and causing considerable anxiety. John was working at Pearson, but on a weekend home he determined to discover the culprit. Accordingly he concealed himself in the barn at night with a salt-loaded pistol in hand. About four o'clock in the morning his long vigil was rewarded. He saw the dark shadow of a man creep into the corral and seat himself at the cow's side. "Alto!" shouted John as the first stream of milk hit the bucket. But the fellow instead of surrendering bolted. John fired at his rear end as it wormed under the fence and again as he fled across the street.

At daybreak John and his brother Ernest followed the thief's tracks straight to the house of Toribio a block away. Inasmuch as the family was seemingly still asleep, the Hatches went at once to Alonzo Taylor, the presidente (sheriff) to enter a complaint. Alonzo was away on business so they turned to ecclesiastical authority only to find that President Romney and Bishop Bentley were both marooned in El Paso by disrupted railroad service.

The situation presented complications. Serving a warrant in the absence of both ecclesiastical and civic heads was a grave matter. Charles E. McClellan, councilor to President Romney and Thomas C. Romney, councilor to the Bishop, and Guy Taylor taking the place of the presidente, called in other leading men to consider the problem. After careful deliberation they finally decided to arrest and prosecute in spite of their annulled authority, otherwise such incidents would increase. Accordingly, Amos Cox, who held a written commission from the former jefe, headed an arresting squad with Guy Taylor and Ed Eyring as aids. With them went S. E. McClellan and Guy C. Wilson.

Toribio was absent when they called, had been gone for some time, they were told. However, they served their warrant and gained permission to search the house. To their surprise they found a room full of loot. Flour, bacon, bottled fruit, quilts, clothing, tools, etc., a veritable cache of stolen articles, many of which were at once recognized. All goods were repossessed and four men in the house were arrested.

Meting out justice was the next and most precarious step. Lest the situation resolve itself into a racial issue they called in twelve Mexicans to deliberate with them. When all facts in the case were carefully studied, a unanimous decision was reached that, for want of a jail, the four men should be confined in the tithing office, and that in the absence of Alonzo Taylor someone must be appointed to assume control. This "someone" must have the confidence and respect of the Mexican people and be favorably inclined toward the colonists. Some discussion took place before such a man was found.