A Tangled Chicken Case

Maria Hernandez was charged, on the complaint of Manuela Perez, with having stolen a white chicken, valued at sixty cents, and the case, when tried before Judge Rogers, produced more cross-swearing and contradictory evidence than the most astute lawyer could unravel. Judge Rogers told the parties to the suit, that, while he had a suspicion that the accused had stolen the chicken, the proof did not substantiate the charge and he would dismiss the case, but there must be no more chicken stealing between the two families or he would mete out severe punishment to the next offender.

--The Deming Headlight, Deming, New Mexico, June 5, 1914, page 3.