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Show ANECDOTES OF THE BAR. 243 at once arraigned and the indictment read to him. He was called on to plead. Great Heavens! he pleaded not guilty. " The Mexican could not speak one word of English; the pleading, and everything else, was carried on through an interpreter. " I then requested the Judge to permit me to retire into a back room, with the Mexican and interpreter, that I might learn the nature of the defense and prepare for trial, which request was readily granted by the Judge. "As soon as we three were in the back room I inquired of the prisoner, through the interpreter, whether he had stolen the watch and chain. He candidly confessed that he had stolen them, but said he didn't believe they could prove it on him. I at once came to the conclusion that inasmuch as he was guilty, whether it could be proven or not, he might as well go to the penitentiary, and a good deal better go there than for me to fool away a whole day in defending him, after he had told me he was guilty. So I told the interpreter to tell him he had' better withdraw his plea of not guilty and plead guilty. The interpreter was fully equal to the task. He had a long undertone conversation with the Mexican, but I am profoundly ignorant of what passed between them, except as I gathered it from the interpreter afterwards. " It seems that among the many attractions which existed inside the walls of the penitentiary at Canon City, he had very forcibly impressed upon the Mexican's mind the great advantage of the boot and shoe factory which was carried on within these walls. The interpreter communicated to me, as the result of this long talk between himself and the prisoner, that he had informed the Mexican there was a good boot and shoe fac- |