They did not pretend to know anything about written law or common law.

They were merely men of good sound sense, who could judge as to what was right in all ordinary intercourse between man and man.
A complaint would be entered to Crockett that one man owed another money and refused to pay him.

Crockett would send his constables to arrest the man, and bring him to his cabin.

After hearing both parties, if Crockett judged the debt to be justly due, and that it could be paid, he would order the man's horse, cow, rifle, or any other property he owned, to be seized and sold, and the debt to be paid.

If the man made any resistance he would be very sure to have his cabin burned down over his head; and he would be very lucky if he escaped a bullet through his own body.
One of the most common and annoying crimes committed by these desperadoes was shooting an emigrant's swine.