Mexican law is a thing to leave strictly alone if you can. The procedure in some respects follows that of the French courts. The stamp law no one pretends to understand. Our company was fined $600 in the Federal district for something, in regard to stamping contracts, which they had done under the advice of the most noted lawyer in the republic, the late ambassador from Mexico to the United States. Once our night-watchman captured a thief trying to steal some tools and the anvil from our smithy. He trussed him up, and then for further security tied the anvil to his feet. The police insisted on taking along the anvil as “evidence,” and we, being inexperienced, allowed them to do so. It took seven days to try the case, and, until the man was convicted, the court would not give us back the “evidence.” On another occasion one of our carters ran over a child with his wagon and killed it. He at once disappeared, but the police arrested the wagon, and it was nearly two weeks before we could get it back. In a complaint of theft you have to appear with two independent witnesses who can vouch, not that you owned the article stolen, but that you are a man of means sufficient to have owned such an article; public repute is not sufficient evidence. For instance, I appeared for the company once in the case of a theft of about $50 of straw. I was told to bring the necessary witnesses. I asked the judge if this was necessary as every one knew our company, and he himself knew that we were handling contracts for hundreds of thousands of dollars. It made no difference; so I went out and got two clerks, who earned possibly £4 per month each in a neighbouring store, and took them up to vouch for the company. In all my cases I have never employed a lawyer. In the court-room there sit the judge and his secretary at ordinary desks, each witness is brought in by himself, and neither the accused nor any one else is in the room, unless you wish for an interpreter, whom you either supply yourself or the court provides. The judge offers you a chair and you sit down near him. You are not sworn, but the judge inquires if you intend to tell the truth, your age, nationality, &c., and then asks you to tell him all you know about the case, which his clerk takes down. Your statement is then read over to you, signed, and out you go. CHAPTER XXXI Solitary confinement—Mexican rogues—The humorous side—A member of the smart set—The milkmen.