A Solomon of the Turkey Roost. in the insular cases, afford material assist ance to the Supreme Court of Porto Rico in solving Sincesome the of American these interesting occupation, questions. the opinions of this court have been published in the Official Gazette, a daily newspaper issued at the capital. These publications simply give a certified copy of the sentencias or opinions, without head notes or other explanation. A bill has just passed the Leg islature authorizing the publication of all the opinions rendered since the organization of the court, in volumes similar to those of the United States Supreme Court reports, to be
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called " Porto Rico Reports," and numbered consecutively. The Attorney General being authorized by the bill to designate one of the justices of the Supreme Court to act as re porter and supervise the preparation and publication of these opinions, has selected for that duty Associate Justice MacLeary, who will immediately begin to have the opinions translated. At the same time, he will prepare the syllabi in English and Span ish, and otherwise arrange the cases for orderly publication. It is supposed that the first volume of reports will be issued in about six months.
A SOLOMON By Henry OF THE BurnsTURKEY Geer. ROOST.
IT was a great day at Barney's Point — the day that Rube Wilkins brought suit before Squire Patton to replevin a hen tur key and her brood of half-grown turks. Wilkins lived just across the road from Joshua Nelson, and he charged that the latter had alienated the birds from his kindly care and supervision, and had caused them to take up with his own fowls, to his (Wilkins) displeasure and financial loss; and further, that when he had remonstrated with his neighbor in a neighborly way, the latter had turned unto him a deaf ear, and had re fused to deliver the turkeys over to him, their rightful owner. Therefore, he prayed the court for a replevin warrant, and an offi cer to execute it, that he might lawfully re cover possession of his property. The neighboring farmers were there for miles around, and the plow-shares rested quietly that day. The opposing counsel argued the case very learnedly, and the wit nesses were most painstaking and explicit in
their evidence. It was evident, long before the case was half over, that it would be a hard question for the Squire to decide. And, besides the legal aspect of the case, there was the political side to it. How could Squire Patton afford to render a decision against either side, when the election was only about a month off, and both sides about equally strong in votes? The evidence was all in finally, and the question up to the court for a decision. The Squire wore a self-satisfied look, as if he had reached a happy solution of the mat ter, that would be satisfactory to all con cerned, as he arose and rapped for order. In a minute all was quiet, — men craning their necks eagerly forward to catch every word of the expected decision : "The officers will now bring the turkeys into court," the Squire said gravely, and then he sat down, and leaned back in his seat, with his eyes closed. A buzz of surprise ran around the room
