JUSTICE IN SOUTH AMERICA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11710, 20 July 1901, Page 2 (Supplement)

JUSTICE IN SOUTH AMERICA.

THE SADDLE THIEF GOT OFF, EASILY. A' TRAVELLER in South America, R. B. Cunninghame Graham, says that his partner, at that time in Uruguay, left a silveranounted saddle in the railway station, and after several days' absence found that it iad been stolen. He informed the police, waited a day, —. -then two davs, and found that nothing had been done. 'Then he went down to see the ". . •commissary of police, and foundl him sitting in his office training two cocks to j duly passed, cigarettes, lighted arid mate circulating, served by a . negro soldier in a ragged uniform with iron spurs upon his naked feet,, we plunged into .talk. . . "Ten dollars, comisano! "No, senor, fifteen, and a slight.gratification to the man who brings the saddle ■hoick." , ■ We settled at thirteen, and then the commissary called, the negro and said: Tio Grancho, get at once to horse, take with you two men and scour the pago till you bring that saddle back!" The next day: the saddle was produced, WMi* but it '■* appeared that one fof the silver stirrups had been lost. The commissary ■was much annoyed, and after thinking the ■case well out returned me 2.50d015. out of the 13d015.1 had agreed to pay. \ new stirrup costs lOdols. at the least, but as the saddle was well worth 60dols. we parted friends—that is, we should have 'done so had not the commissary had another card to play. , ~ .... , "How long do you want the thief detained?" he asked. We wanted to be magnanimous, so we Answered loftily. "A month will do. " All right," "he replied. " Then I must trouble you for 30dols. more for the^ mans .maintenance and for the gaoler's fee. I said instantly: "We are, of course, ignorant of your laws, and s perhaps we have ' looked at the man's offence too. severely. LA week will do." So, after paying sdols. V down, we left, knowing well that the money Would pass into the commissary's pocket. Months afterwards I learned that the . culprit had worked two days in cutting j : down weeds in the public square. Then he ' " tad volunteered to join the army, was received into the ranks 4 and in a few weeks j Vosa to be sergeant. i