All language subtitles for Death.Valley.Days.S12E18.Law.of.the.Round.Tent.1080p.AMZN.WEB-DL.DD+2.0.H.264-bigworm_track3_[eng]

[ all chattering ]

Morning, Stacey.

♪ [ trumpet ]

Howdy, folks.
I'’m the Old Ranger.

Just around the bend
of the Yuba River in California,

George Kelsey set up
his Round Tent Saloon

back in 1850.

Now, in those days,
there was but one law,

the Law of Judge Lynch.

Men were hanged or whipped

or tarred and feathered

without the benefit of trial.

That'’s the way it was

until a man named
George Kelsey came along

and established...

GEORGE: All gamblin'’
will stop for a few minutes.

Ain'’t gonna be
no more drinking either.

This is now a court of law.

Uh, Dirty Neck Wiloby.

Come on up here
to the bench.

What'’s happening, George?
What'’s the charge?

Running out on your wife

and cheating at cards.

Now, looky here, George.

You know I ain'’t never
cheated at cards.

Yeah well, you didn'’t deny
the first charge.

Willfully leaving your wife
at your diggings

to face the Injuns,
helpless.

Helpless?

Them Injuns are scared sick
of my old lady.

[ men laughing ]

This court feels that a wife

has got to be
cherished and protected.

And it finds you guilty
of wife um...

a-abandonment.

Fine will be $100
to be awarded to Mrs. Wiloby.

She told you what
I come in here with.

Well, I ain'’t got
but about 30 of it left.

Least that proves I ain'’t
been cheating at cards.

I um...

Law is how I wronged you,
Dirty Neck,

so I'’m gonna fine myself $70
for that slandering statement.

Money to be awarded to you.

That'’ll give you enough money
to pay your own fine

and uh, I guess we'’re even.

Court'’s adjourned.

All you gentlemen can now resume
your drinking and gambling.

Thank you, Mr. Kelsey.

That was a dirty deal,
George.

At least you owe me
a drink for it.

Now, you know
I don'’t serve drinks

to a man who'’s been accused
of cheating at cards.

I'’d advise you, Dirty Neck,
to go on back to your diggings.

And take care
of the little woman.

Now you stop that,
you hear me?

You'’ve got some nerve
coming in here

and trying to take
advantage of us.

Why, you no...

Now you listen to me.
I'’m gonna throw you out
that door right this second,

and don'’t ever show
your face again.

Let him alone, George.
I can handle him.

What'’d he do?

He tried to pick
that man'’s pocket.

I saw him.

I guess you know
your way out of here.

That'’s the third one today.

Thieves, card sharks,
murderers.

They keep on arriving.

And the worst
is yet to come.

Well...

Every ounce of gold
these miners pan

is just gonna buy
more trouble.

So I suggest
you tend to your tables

and leave the bunco artists
up to the boys.

Why, I think it'’d be
a very good idea

if you took
your own advice.

Never take my own advice.

Then you should'’ve
taken mine.

I told you that
kangaroo court you hold

would bring
nothing but trouble.

Luke and Boston.

They'’re waiting over there.
They wanna talk to you.

You, uh, gentlemen
wanted to talk to me?

Yeah, we'’d be obliged
if you'’d answer

a few questions for us,
George.

I'’ll be glad to.

Uh, George...

Let'’s say this
was a real court of law

and you was a real judge.

And let'’s say that Luke here
stole a horse.

Now, what would be
the consequence?

Legal, that is.
Not the Law of Judge Lynch.

Well, a lot
would depend on the horse.

Now if it'’s a bad horse,
um, that would be larceny.

Let'’s say six months.

Now if it was a very fine,
grand horse,

grand larceny.

Two years in jail.

George...

Boston here loaned me
some golden dust,

and I says
I ain'’t about to pay up.

What then?

Are you two gentlemen
in some kind of trouble?

No, George,
but answer his question.

What you say now
is important.

Well, that would be
a civil case.

Uh...The magistrate
would order

Luke to pay.

If he didn'’t,
the court would
grab his property.

They call that
"confiscation."

BOSTON:
Well, George,

this town is growing
too big for its britches.

Now we aim to become
a municipality.

We'’ve formed
a citizens council

and nominated
Doc Mason for Mayor.

Got a name for it.
Gonna call it "Washington."

Kinda patriotic-like.

I think it'’s a good idee.

And George...

being as you know
the legal business

from A to Z,

and you'’ve had a lot
of practice judging--

[ chuckles ]
The council

is appointing you
as a real magistrate.

Legal and all.

Well...

I'’m...

much obliged for the honor,
gentlemen,

but I ain'’t rightly
the correct man.

No, you'’re wrong, George.

We need you.

But the thing is...

I learned about
the finer points of the law

in the same manner
that a deer learns

the finer points
of deer hunting.

I, uh, did time in jail.

Well, I don'’t reckon
that matters much.

Leastwise not to me.

Or me neither.

Being in jails mean you know
even more about the law.

The important thing
is you'’ve got the knowledge.

And you got the only place
big enough for a courthouse,

for one thing more.

The Mayor says you'’ve got
to have a coat for judging.

You got a coat, George?

I have indeed.

Got one that'’ll suit
just fine.

Well those
are the real important things.

[ all cheering ]

I sure wish
the judge would hurry,

he'’s holding up
the speeches.

Oh don'’t worry,
he'’ll be here.

WOMAN:
Well...

How are things
on the riverboat, Colonel?

You'’ll mind your tongue,
I'’m a full-fledged judge now.

Demand a little respect.

My, my, my, my.

You'’re almost
as pretty as I am.

Thank you.

I'’d be mighty proud

to escort you
to the festivities.

[ people cheering ]

[ gunshot ]

[ gunshot ]Ooh.

The men seem to be taking
their celebrating seriously.

Don'’t sound like
no celebrating to me.

[ gunshot ]

I better see
what'’s going on.

You wait here. [ gunshot ]

[ gunshots ]

Who is it?

Tim Loker and some stranger,
George.

Get yourself a gun,
councilman.

We'’re gonna stop this.

Sure thing, George.

Judge.

Lend me a handgun, Fred.

Tim!

Timothy Loker!

Put up that gun.

[ gun clicks ]

[ gun cocking ]

The varmint made off
with my burrow,
pack and all.

Tim, I asked you
to put down your gun.

You kept right on shooting.

And I said the man
made off with my burrow.

My best luck.
Look how my gun
fits this leather.

Besides, there'’s a heap
of folks around here

can tell you
this burrow is mine.

Well, that don'’t give you
no cause to go around
killing people.

Well, I can'’t say
as how I agree with you.

George,
what'’s gotten into you?

Well, things
are about to change here,

that'’s what's got into me.

I'’m sorry, I'm gonna have
to ask the councilman

to take you in.

Luke.

You'’re under arrest,
Loker.

According to who?

According to the council
of the town of Washington.

[ laughs ]
This ain'’t no town.

It'’s a camp out.

It'’s just a stinking
pile of canvas.

And besides,
the only law around here

is the miner'’s code.

[ murmuring in agreement ]And the code says

that if a man
steals something
that'’s your own,

you got a right to kill him
fair and square.

[ murmuring ]

Now listen to me.

This is gonna be
a municipality as of today.

And we'’re gonna see to it

that it'’s
a lawful municipality.

All right, take him
to the Round Tent.

Let'’s go.

Order in the court.

Timothy Loker.

You'’re accused
of killing a man

in the main street
of Washington.

How do you plead?

Not guilty.

Now Tim,
there were witnesses.

Including your judge.

I don'’t plead guilty
to nothing.

Besides, this here
ain'’t no court of law.

Are you gonna
let this happen?

Are you gonna have
the law laid down
by a bartender?

Now, now, address the bench

or I'’m gonna have
to fine you

for, uh, contemptibility.

For contempt.

Makes no difference
what you call it

or what the fine is.

I know a hanging party
when I see one.

Now Tim, this ain'’t
no hanging party.

It was a fair fight,
I saw it.

The man was a thief.

We'’re bringing law
to this town,

there ain'’t gonna be
no more shooting

or hanging either,

'’less the court orders it.

Ahh-- Be no drinking.

Now if any man feels
he'’s been wronged,

let him bring his complaints
to the town council.

We'’ll settle it
here in court.

I admit we ain'’t got
no lawyer in town,

in fact we ain'’t even got
no law book.

So we'’re gonna have to depend
a whole lot on our feelings

for what'’s right
and what'’s wrong.

We'’re gonna have
to depend on uh...

A common sense law,
as I see it.

[ all chattering ]

Now Tim...

common sense tells us
that any man'’s got a right

to defend his own property.

That just two hours ago,

there wasn'’t no official court
here in Washington,

so we can'’t punish you
for what you just did.

You were brought here
to be given fair warning.

But the next time
you'’re brought here,

you may be a whole lot closer
to hanging

than you just
thought you were.

Court'’s adjourned.

Be no gambling or drinking
till this courtroom'’s

cleared of the women folk.

Me and Luke thought that
was a right fine trial, George.

Uh, Judge.Thank you, gentlemen.

For a minute there,
I was afraid you were
gonna sentence Loker.

Well now, that--
That wouldn'’t have been just.

It'’d been a bad thing.

Especially since
we ain'’t got a jail.

A jail? Jail gonna cost
a heap of money.

Things are so expensive
these days.

I guess we'’ll just have
to fine '’em or hang 'em, Judge.

Say...

It wouldn'’t be a bad idea

if the criminals paid
for that jailhouse themselves.

Since they'’ll be
the only ones using it.

Everybody be seated.

Court'’s now in session.

Now Carl,
nobody objects
to a fistfight

as long as
it'’s fair and square.

But when you pulled
a bowie knife

out on your opponent,
that made it a public problem.

A brawl.

And even worse,
the knife was rusty.

You can make a man awful sick
with a rusty knife.

Charge,
Brawling in public.

Fine, $15. Dust or coin.

Charge,
petty thievery.

Pay $25 in dust or coin.

Disturbing the peace.

$50, dust or coin.

$100, coin or dust.

I don'’t know,
makes no difference

how much I fine '’em.

$150, $200.

They just go out
and dig up more gold.

We still ain'’t
got enough money
to build no jail.

At least, Wyatt,
we ain'’t had

no shootings or killings
since we started.

Not for a whole week.

SHEILA:
Well, you have now.

It'’s Dirty Neck Wiloby
and Tim Loker.

They'’re on the other side
of the river

gunning for each other.

And the other miners
are beginning to take sides.

[ all chattering ]

Now looky here, George.

First you have me
throwed out of your tent,

and now you have me
drug back in again.

And I got a right
to know why.

Well Dirty Neck,
you were drug in here

because you were
gunning for...

Well, your fellow man.

Fellow man...

You mean Tim Loker?

He ain'’t no "fellow man."

He'’s just a dirty, lowdown,
claim-jumpin'’, thievin'--Dirty Neck, listen--

Listen--
Listen, Dirty Neck!

You'’re-You're a reasonable man,
ain'’t you?

Well, yes...Well, then, there'’s no reason

to gunning for him.

Just bring him into court,
make charges against him.

Would rather kill him
man to man.

Well now you do that,
we'’re gonna have to hang you.

Now of course,
if we get Tim Loker'’s

charge against you--

Wait a minute--Then we won'’t have
to wait so long.

Wait a minute,
I'’ll make the charges.

Good, good. We got
everything right here.

You be the court clerk.

Now Dirty Neck,
what'’s the charges?

Hmm, charges...

Killing his mother.

Better put down
he killed his father too.

No, no, no. The charges
got to be real, Dirty Neck.

What was the fight about?

Claim-jumping.

Jumping a dead man'’s claim.

You know that mule thief
he killed last week?

Turns out he had a shaft mine
just across the river.

Tim and his chums
moved in on it.

And what was the fight about?

Well me and my chums figure
it ain'’t legally his.

We figure we got
as much right to it as him.

There he is now.

Um, um-- Dirty Neck.

Now don'’t spoil things.

We don'’t want no hanging here.

Uh, Luke. Grab him.

Put this down, Boston.

Just lay that rifle
on the counter there.

Ain'’t nobody gonna steal it.

You one of Wiloby'’s men?

You? Oh, not again.

You'’re under arrest,
Mr. Loker.

According to who?

According to the council
of the town of Washington.

The court of the Municipality
of Washington

is now in special session.

Uh-Uh-- Bring forward
the prisoner.

Right there.

As God'’s council,
you'’re getting me mad.

I got a legal charge here

made by Abner Wiloby.

Says you'’re working the claim
that ain'’t rightfully yours.

That charge ain'’t true.

Besides, why don'’t you just
fine me and be done with it?

'’Cause that's about
all this court is good for.

Well, I ain'’t about
to let you go

and round up those men that
are working that claim for you.

Now this session
is just called special

to make the arrest official.

You'’ll be held in custody
till trial time tomorrow.

You can'’t keep me prisoner.
What about bail?

Legal courts
always take bail.

Well then I'’ll set
the bail at...

$5,000 in dust.

Judge, I'’m gonna
put up that bail.

It just so happens
I got a man guarding that much

outside on a pack mule.

Judge,

I come for my money.

Well, you ain'’t
stood trial yet, Tim.

I got five guns along with me
says I ain'’t about to.

[ gun cocks ]

You'’d be the first one
killed, Tim.

I think it'’s only fair
to tell your friends

that uh...

Boys up there have
four shots each

left in those rifles.

That'’s just about enough.

Luke?

You don'’t scare me.

Besides, I ain'’t about to be
tried by a jailbird.

George Kelsey, your judge,

is nothing but an ex-convict.

Why this student
of fancy clothes

is nothing but
a common criminal.

Tim...

You can'’t insult
Judge Kelsey,

but you can insult the law.

But you just insulted
George Kelsey

and his family in Missouri.

You called George Kelsey
a common criminal,

which he ain'’t,
which I'’ll explain sometime.

Now I do this
with the full approval

of Judge Kelsey.

I'’m sorry, Tim,
you must learn

all your lessons
at one...time.

But there'’s one thing
about it, Tim,

Washington ain'’t never
gonna forget you.

Because when you reminded me
of Missouri,

you gave me the answer
to our problem.

This court is in
special session.

Now Tim here is charged
with being guilty

of claim-jumping,

and he pleads guilty.

Right, Tim?

Aw, you ain'’t bad, Tim.

He ain'’t a bad man.
He reminded me of Missouri.

Now back in Missouri,

when a man dies without
leaving no next of kin,

the government comes in
and grabs off his property.

They call that
"confiscation."

Now it'’s common sense that
what'’s good enough for Missouri

will surely do
for Washington.

Now, since there ain'’t
no legal owner to that mine,

there ain'’t no reason why

it shouldn'’t build
this town a courthouse.

No reason why
we shouldn'’t have a school,

and a sheriff that gets paid.

And um, some law books
for the next magistrate,

who you are going to elect
with a real vote.

Uh, that'’s the proper way.

Until that time,
whilst we do these things

we'’re gonna maintain
order here

and we'’re gonna maintain law.

Law of the Round Tent.

Court is adjourned.

[ all cheering ]

Congratulations, George.

We sure picked the right man.

I knew you could do it,
George.

That was a rip-roarin'’ start,
Judge Kelsey.

George Kelsey'’s
brand of justice

spread throughout the West.

"Round Tent justice"
became an everyday phrase

that stood for decency
and served well

in a land with no formal law.

And another phrase
coined by that man,

"common sense law,"

is still heard today
as an echo of George Kelsey,

ex-convict and owner

of the Round Tent Saloon.