_Incomunicado_ (solitary confinement) is one of the bad features of Mexican law. The accused is placed thus for the first forty-eight hours (in some cases up to seventy-two hours), and during this time the investigating judge is trying his best to wring a confession out of him, or to confound him by constant interrogations. Another bad feature is the length of time the officials can hold a man without trial while they are trying to get evidence against him; but this is not done so much now as formerly. I have known men held thus for over a year in jail without trial, and then turned loose when the case could not be proved against them. Another peculiarity is the length of time a man condemned to death can delay the execution by appeals, &c. All this is now under discussion by the new government, and the consensus of opinion is that changes for the better will be made in the laws. There was a man shot here in the penitentiary a year ago who was condemned six years previously for the murder of his wife. Woman murder is about the only thing they seem to execute a man for in Mexico. For any ordinary killing in a fight, eight years is the longest sentence I have seen recorded, though some have been condemned to death and their sentence afterwards reduced to this amount. Yet I have seen sentences ranging from two years to twelve years for robbery with breach of trust. Mexican rogues work out some clever schemes; for instance, the following was worked successfully in San Luis Potosi, and the perpetrator has not yet been caught: A man dressed as a wealthy _hacendado_ (ranch-owner) walked into the largest implement house there, and, after looking over their stock, picked out and bought $15,000 worth of machinery. He said, “As you do not know me, I will pay in cash,” and pulled out his pocket-book. “Oh,” said he, "I forgot to cash this draft, and find I have only about $1000 in cash with me, but here is a sight draft for $30,000, made out to me by the Bank of London and Mexico; which I will endorse over to you. When you have cashed the draft, please send the balance to this address." The owner of the store was delighted to meet a customer who bought such large orders without beating down the price, and who also paid cash, and was bowing him out with much ceremony when they encountered coming in another presumably wealthy _hacendado_. “Why, old fellow, what are you doing here?” said No. 2. “Just buying a few things for the ranch,” said No. 1; and then, laughing, “Do you know, I found myself without ready money to pay for them, and so had to leave my draft here for these people to collect.” "If it is not more than $50,000 I will settle for you, old friend, but that is all the money I have with me," and he pulled out a pocket-book filled with bills of $500 and $1000. So they marched back, and No. 2 paid the balance of $14,000. “Now,” said No. 1 to the store proprietor, “if you will kindly endorse