Post by sloanrodgers on Sept 20, 2008 13:32:02 GMT -5
I'm sure folks have heard of the infamous Judge Roy Bean, but it has recently come to my
attention that this so-called Hanging Judge and Law West of the Pecos was one big fake
in Texas history. There are a lot of legends surrounding Judge Bean and a few truths, but
mainly Judge Bean was a legend in his own mind. He wasn't even a judge, but a justice of
the peace for Pecos County. A minor county official, who usually presided over small legal
offenses, acted as coroner and conducted marriages. There's no evidence that Bean ever
hanged anybody. Since Bean's jurisdiction had no jail and he had very little legal authority
anyway, most offenders were simply fined and sent on their way. He always pocketed the
fine, instead of turning it over to the county.
Phantly (or Phony) Roy Bean Jr. came from Kentucky and traveled the Southwest with his
more respectable brothers. Bean gained his scant legal experiance on the other side of the
law and by the time he was 50 years old was known as a murderer, duelist, rustler, gambler,
thief, wife beater, smuggler and all around no-good drunk. Some people say it takes a crook
to catch one, but Bean hardly caught anyone. Bean was mainly known for giving goofy legal
opinions on subjects that he knew nothing about.
It's been stated ad nauseam in Texas history that Bean (on his word) founded Langtry in the
southwest part of the state, named it for British actress Lillie Langtry ( the Jersey Lily ), then
bestowed her nickname on his little saloon and make-shift courthouse. In reality, Langtry was
already in existence when Bean arrived and was named for railroad worker George Langtry, not
the actress. The ignorant Bean could not even get her nickname right and put The Jersey Lilly
on the sign outside his saloon. He didn't even own the property where his saloon was built, but
was squatting upon railroad land. The Jersey Lilly burned down in 1896, the same year Bean was
voted out of office. Bean built a replica of the original structure (which still stands) and was re-
elected for a brief term before his 1903 demise. In my opinion yall have to take whatever Bean
said with a grain o' salt as he may be lyin'.
Here's some pix of Bean and his saloon/ courthouse
that I couldn't seem to blow up on here.
www.spock.com/Roy-Bean/pictures
attention that this so-called Hanging Judge and Law West of the Pecos was one big fake
in Texas history. There are a lot of legends surrounding Judge Bean and a few truths, but
mainly Judge Bean was a legend in his own mind. He wasn't even a judge, but a justice of
the peace for Pecos County. A minor county official, who usually presided over small legal
offenses, acted as coroner and conducted marriages. There's no evidence that Bean ever
hanged anybody. Since Bean's jurisdiction had no jail and he had very little legal authority
anyway, most offenders were simply fined and sent on their way. He always pocketed the
fine, instead of turning it over to the county.
Phantly (or Phony) Roy Bean Jr. came from Kentucky and traveled the Southwest with his
more respectable brothers. Bean gained his scant legal experiance on the other side of the
law and by the time he was 50 years old was known as a murderer, duelist, rustler, gambler,
thief, wife beater, smuggler and all around no-good drunk. Some people say it takes a crook
to catch one, but Bean hardly caught anyone. Bean was mainly known for giving goofy legal
opinions on subjects that he knew nothing about.
It's been stated ad nauseam in Texas history that Bean (on his word) founded Langtry in the
southwest part of the state, named it for British actress Lillie Langtry ( the Jersey Lily ), then
bestowed her nickname on his little saloon and make-shift courthouse. In reality, Langtry was
already in existence when Bean arrived and was named for railroad worker George Langtry, not
the actress. The ignorant Bean could not even get her nickname right and put The Jersey Lilly
on the sign outside his saloon. He didn't even own the property where his saloon was built, but
was squatting upon railroad land. The Jersey Lilly burned down in 1896, the same year Bean was
voted out of office. Bean built a replica of the original structure (which still stands) and was re-
elected for a brief term before his 1903 demise. In my opinion yall have to take whatever Bean
said with a grain o' salt as he may be lyin'.
Here's some pix of Bean and his saloon/ courthouse
that I couldn't seem to blow up on here.
www.spock.com/Roy-Bean/pictures