Who killed the judge?

In central Portugal there is a town called Mortágua. This town’s name is a contraction of “morte” (death) and “água” (water), possibly because in ancient times this was a place with swamps.
Well, the place itself is older than memory, so as it’s name and most of all as the pride of it’s inhabitants.
Since 1192 this town was important enough to have the local judge designated by the King himself.
Of course this meant judges usually would come from out of town.
Legend has it the judges would usually be wise people who would do justice, but one day a different judge arrived.
A bad corrupt judge. Who would impose cruel punishments and be unfair in many ways.
One day that judge met his own judgment in the form of a pitchfork nailing his neck to a tree.
The King sent another judge to preside over the town’s court and to conduct inquiries on the matter of the murder of his predecessor.
When questioned on who killed the judge all locals would answer “ Mortágua killed the judge!”. With time the King gave up on punishing the murderer.
Sometimes I wish these days were back, sometimes I wish people would turn against corrupt judges and politicians instead of re-electing them over and over.