The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1856-08-07


There sre few curiosties of our existing
criminal lsw that wait to be. o. Sir Matthev
IIale woold say, laid Eat. A good many hav,
besn laid Gas sincs his time: Tor that ismoui
Judge aud Historian at the Pleas OF the Grown
lived In Stewart days, and died in the year six
teen hundred and seventy-six. A great many
no tells US. had been laid dat when be lived
for instance, il had ceased to he felony and
death to seli horse to Scotcham.
Jack C,ds, II Shakespeare knew HE mind
meant that when he was king Il should be Ielony
to drink small beer; and that, We may say
looking at some actual cases, would have beer
no great sharpening Of law We have now moi
more executions 10 the eosntry every year thar
used TO Be provided often in single morning
only. Ssvsnty Or eighty years ago. there was
never lem than dozen culprits hung 10 row
sfter every Old BAily sessions; and Townshend
the Bow Street runner, said that be remember.
ed = session OF seventeen hundred and eighty.
three, when SERGEANT Adair was Recorder, after
which forty we're hung at two executions. In
earlier time, the lightsst heed wss taken Of the
puuishmeat OF death. II was no rare and
solsma sentence, but staple Judicial routine
that might Be eulivcned with Joke when DOS
sible, 70 color its monotony. TITS, Lord Ba.
COO tells of his father Sir Nicholas, that when
appointed q judge On the nosthern circuit. He
ives BY one Of the maIefactoss nightly impor.
tuned ibe 70 ssve bis lie; which, when uoshing
he had said did avail. he at length desired his
mercy On account Of kindred. 'Prithee. said my
lord Judge, how came that in!' why, IL Il
pease you. my lord, your name is Bacon, and
mine d Hog; and In oil ages Hog and Bacon
haSe bcen % near kindred that they are not to
10 sepnsstel.' Az. but, replied Jadge Bacon
'you and ! cannot he kindred except you be
lie hanged; for Hog h not Bacon until he il
we'll hanged
o. courss crime Was not lcssened by extrem
severity. As for the puaishment Of death. Mr..
Harmer. great Jail solicitor, said. in bis evi.
desce before the Criminal Law Commission,
In thu coarse Of my experience, have found
the common thief. have very often heard
thieves express their great dislike OF being srnt
TO the Hose Of Correction. or the hulks. but
never heard one ny that he was afraid Of being
haafcd.' Mr.. Amos Dowing, Professor Of the
Laws st Csmbridge upon whose recent very
interesting sketch. Ruins Of Time Exemplifefl
in Sir Mathew Hales History Of the Pleas Of
the Grown, this article Is wholly founded sag.
gcsts aisD tbe ease Of . person in respectable
station Of life. Who lived during the last centu.
ry IN HoIborp Court Gny's Ino. and was for q
loas tina in The hsbit Of breakiss open and
ro6bing chambers ia the Inns Of Court, with.
out any ssspicions attached to him. II 10 re-
masksble hat. during this period. he always
weat 70 Abingv3oux cofe-house. ir Holborn
On On exssution day, to sec from thence the
pusosen paA BY Ia thrir carts to Tyburu.
At no Other time did tc frequent that cotste.
hosse.
Ths result Of ordering men TO do what they
viii not, o. casnoe do. d, when action ri some
kind b enbecsd. commonly abssrd. The law
used 10 compel jurymen. II they acquitted any
sccsssd man of murder. not merely to acquis
hin, bot 10 ssae the guilty person. When.
ever they could not do this TO the satisfaction
Of their coasceeces. the juries declared that ths
real mardseer wss JohnA-Nokes- That persor
Of whom ve speak Of 20 often o. Jack Noske,
in friendly toees, has hem declared guilty by
jury alter jury Of seriez Of horrible atrocities
Avsy with him. then, Ist him be laid fat
whsn hscesies were grind nod petty, and .
few skillinp moee a. Iea in the vaiue OF sto
len artieis made thu question one of lie s.d
dastA 70 the tAisf. juries, usrd int the mos, open
wsy. 10 deal 10 what wese csiled by Blsckstops
pso1s pajaries II was . common thing io'
isento 6ad that fve-poupd notes, or ten-pound
Doees 0 The Bank Of EsxisDd, were articles Of
the vslae OF twenty pcncr. foor shil'ines and
Sx pDo, o. tweuty-nine shillinxs, a. the hu-
racssy OF u ose eqsired- In fact. the rzai'
dtns TOO great stsingeecyo. hr was grpai
lasity d prscssoe. Illustrated In the happissl
Ssy y me nlsseasr', who petisioocd parlia