Kill the Steer to Prove the Point

Judge Roy Bean, the “Law West of the Pecos,” had some colorful ways to hand out justice in Texas. Like the time someone was stealing cattle from the 'Bar S' ranch. Bean appointed himself a range detective and went out looking. Six days later he came back with 20-some head, all branded '48'. A guy was tied-up behind the judge, squawking that these were his legal cows and the judge was crazy. The crowd almost agreed when the judge shot one of the cows dead. He then skinned back its hide and ev