.OTk1.NjQ2OTU
Another place I saw a legal notice posted on a corner it was to the following effect, that the undersigned had built a bridge some two months since on Lariner st over Cherry Creek connecting the town of Auraria and Denver, that certain parties having failed to make the payments on said bridge as agreed upon, that after three days they forbid any one to cross said bridge at their peril that they should have a sufficient force there and shoot down any who would attempt to disobey this order of the court. Before we left the city I heard that they raised the money and paid for the bridge. This summary way of doing business works to a charm there is no resisting the court no such thing heard of as fining any one for contempt because no one would dare to show it he would be punished on the spot and in a most unpleasant manner. Since we arrived in the city there had been two executions and by making inquiries I found out that there is somebody hung every week. You must not think from this that was a hard place to live in I never saw a more quiet and law observing city I believe the severe and instantanous punishment of crime ? preventive, all the murders committed here spring from the gambling table the termination of a dispute was always left to the pistol or Bowie knife if one of the gamblers was killed the surviver was sure to have his neck stretched before two days and thus the community would be well rid of two ruffians. What was considered a crime deserving of death when committed by gamblers was passed off quietly as justifiable when done by other parties, if two men got into a dispute on the street they could settle it in any manner they thought proper and if one killed the other it was all done in fair fight and there was no hint of punishment but if it was a gambler he deserved no mercy and was hung up without any mercy.