Under the Mexican law, Alcaldes had, as already stated, a very limited jurisdiction.  But in the anomalous condition of affairs under the American occupation, they exercised almost unlimited powers.  They were, in fact, regarded as magistrates elected by the people for the sake of preserving public order and settling disputes of all kinds.  In my own case, and with the approval of the community, I took jurisdiction of every case brought before me.  I knew nothing of Mexican laws; did not pretend to know anything of them; but I knew that the people had elected me to act as a magistrate and looked to me for the preservation of order and the settlement of disputes; and I did my best that they should not be disappointed.  I let it be known that my election had been approved by the highest authority.

The first case I tried was in the street.  Two men came up to me, one of them leading a horse.  He said, “Mr. Alcalde, we both claim this horse, and we want you to decide which of us is entitled to it.”  I turned to the man who had the horse, administered an oath to him, and then examined him as to where he got the horse, of whom and when, whether he had a bill of sale, whether there was any mark or brand on the animal, and, in short, put all those questions which would naturally be asked in such a case to elicit the truth.  I then administered an oath to the other man and put him through a similar examination, paying careful attention to what each said.  When the examination was completed I at once decided the case.  “It is very plain, gentlemen,” I said, “that the horse belongs to this man (pointing to one of them) and the other must give him up.”  “But,” said the man who had lost and who held the horse, “the bridle certainly belongs to me, he does not take the bridle, does he?” I said, “Oh no, the bridle is another matter.”  As soon as I said this the owner of the bridle turned to his adversary and said, “What will you take for the horse?” “Two hundred and fifty dollars,” was the instant reply.  “Agreed,” retorted the first, and then turning to me, he continued:  “And now, Mr. Alcalde, I want you to draw me up a bill of sale for this horse which will stick.”  I, of course, did as he desired.  I charged an ounce for trying the case and an ounce for the bill of sale; charges which were promptly paid.  Both parties went off perfectly satisfied.  I was also well pleased with my first judicial experience.

Soon after my election I went to San Francisco to get my effects; and while there I purchased, on credit, a frame house and several zinc houses, which were at once shipped to Marysville.  As soon as the frame house was put up I opened my office in it, and exercised not only the functions of a magistrate and justice, but also of a supervisor of the town.  I opened books for the record of deeds and kept a registry of conveyances in the district.  I had the banks of the river graded so as to facilitate the landing from vessels.  The marshal of my court, elected at the same time with myself, having refused to act, I appointed an active and courageous person in his place, R.B.  Buchanan by name, and directed him to see that peace was preserved, and for that purpose to appoint as many deputies as might be necessary.  He did so, and order and peace were preserved throughout the district, not only in Marysville, but for miles around.