Kangaroo Court (April 1, 1851)

[Bapopik at AOL.COM]

   I don't know what to make of the April 1st date.  Is this an April fool?  Was the whole thing invented right here with this story?


   1 April 1851, GALVESTON WEEKLY NEWS (Galveston, Texas), pg. 1, col. 4:
      For the "News."
   BACKWOODS SCENES;
      OR
   REMINISCENCES OF EARLY TIMES IN TEXAS.
   BY SYLVESTER SILVERSIGHT
      No. 1
   A "New Comer" in a Tight Place.
(...)
   Some time in the year 1831, or '32,...
(...)
   "Ta'e him down?  Show him the _varmint_!  Yes, by G-d! we'll introduce him tothe _Kangaroo_!" explained the gruff, but, at times jocose old Captain Leathershirt.
   There was much of truth in the remarks of the old Captain, for, on the very next day--all things necessary forthe occasion having been arranged--the young gentleman _was_, in the most formal manner, shown the _varmint_--"introduced to the _Kangaroo_."  So that our readers may understand what was meant by the allusion to the Kangaroo, we will state that the San Felipeans had regularly organized a _mock_ tribunal, called--a very uncouth appellation, by the bye--the "Supreme Kangaroo Court of San Felipe."  It was to this court that young Spindleshanks was introduced.
(...)
   And they _did_ "invistigate the matter," to the utmost extent of the powers vested in the august _Kangaroo Court_.
(...)