"Gentlemen, I find the law very explicit on murdering your fellow man, but there's nothing here about killing a Chinaman. Case dismissed"

This quote by Roy Bean is a humorous method of stating that the law does not explicitly forbid killing a Chinese man. It is a reflection of the bigotry and discrimination that Chinese people dealt with in the 19th century. Bean is indicating that the law does not safeguard Chinese people, and that they are ruled out equivalent to other people. This quote likewise reflects the power of the law and how it can be used to discriminate against particular groups of people. Bean is using his power as a judge to dismiss the case, which shows how the law can be utilized to oppress certain groups of individuals. This quote is a pointer of the bigotry and discrimination that Chinese people dealt with in the 19th century, and how the law can be used to oppress specific groups of people.