Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1858-02-05
EARLY LAWS OF VERMONT.

EARLY LAWS OF VERMONT.
That the Word of God" and the
Connecticut law book" were the sources.
whence were drawn those ideas which
prevailed in the formation of the penal
statutes of Vermont, may be readily seen
from an examination of the statutes them
selves. The early criminal code of Con-
neciicut, observes a late writer, ''reeog-
nized twelve capital offences, TO which
two more were afterwards added, and all
of which were founded on the strict pre-
cepts of the Levitical law" The Grim
inal code of Vermont, adopted in Febru-
airy, 1919, recognized nine offences pun
ishable by death. These were treason
murder; arson; rape; bestiality; sodo-
my; bearing false witness against a per-
son for the purpose of causing bis death =;
mutilation, either by maliciouslY cutting
out or disabling the tongue, or by putting
out one or both of the eyes, $50 that the
person is thereby made blind" or by
emasculation; and blaspherning "the
name of GoD the FATHER, SoN or HOLY
GHosT, with direct, express presumption
and high-handed blasphemy," or cursine
Sin the like manner"
Other crimes were regarded with q
sternness approaching almost to that
which characterized the Draconian sys-
TEN. Manslaughter was punished by the
forfeiture TO the state OF ''all the goods
and chattles," of the manslayer; by whip
ping son the naked body; by branding
the hand with the letter NJ on a hot
Iron; and by disabling tie offender
from giving verdict or ''evidence in any
court in the state. Persons convicted Of
the crime of incest were compelled to sit
upon the gallows the space of one hour.
with rope about their neck, and the 9th
er end cast over the gallows and in the
way from thence to the common goal -
were TO be severely whipt, not exceed
ing thirty-nine stripes each. Other pun
ishments for this offence were stated in
these words: Persons so offending
shall, forever after, wear a capital letter
], Of two inches long and proportionable
bigness, cnt out in cloth of a contrary
color TO their clothes, and sewed upon
their garments, on the outside of their
arm, or on their back, in open view. And
If any person or persons, convicted and
sentenced as aforesaid, for such offence.
shall, at any time, be found without their
letter so worn, during their abode in this
state, they shall, by warrant from anv
one assistant or justice of the peace, be
forthwith apprehended, and ordered to be
publicly whipt, not exceeding fifteen
stripes, and from time to time, or as often
as they shall so ofend.' Incestuous mar
riages were also declared void. and all
children born of such connection we're
forever disabled to inherit by descent.
or by being generally named in any deed
or will, by father or mother"
In the statute against and for the pun
l5hment Of adultery" the following Ian
guage was held. losoever shall COM
NIT adultery with a married woman. or
one betrothed to another man, both of
them shall be severely punished by whip
ping on the naked body, not EXCEEDING
thiTty-nine stripes, and stigmatized, or
burnt on the forehead with the letter A.
on hot iron; and each of them shall
wear the capital letter A, on the back Of
Their outside garments, of a different col
or, in fair view, during their abode in
this state. And as often as such coavict-
ed person shall be seen without such let
ter, and be thereof convicted before an as
si5tant or justice Of the peace in this state
LheJ shall be whipt on the naked body.
not exceeding ten stripes" The same
punlshments were denounced AGAINST
those wha should be guilty Of polygamv,
and PoIygamous marriages were declared
null and void" At the session Of the
General Assembly in October 1898. the
against adultery and polycamv
we're re-enacted in a more definite form
but with penalties attached similar IN
those above recited.
House-breaking and highway robbery
were punished with great severity
whatsoever shall commit burglary. "
,hese were the words Of the statute, ..bv
1reakino mn any d,vaiT;,,, b<,,a.