1890
Judge Beckley Campbell conducted court in a Benicia, California saloon.
After hearing the evidence and deciding on a verdict in cases, he meted out punishments based on the result of tossing two dice in a cigar box.
Double fours, for instance, would mean eight days or months behind bars, depending on the crime. With a repeat offender, Campbell would skip the proceedings and go straight to the dice.
Photo from freeimages.com, by Jason Morrison
