Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1858-02-26
EAELV LAWS or VERMONT.

h''iW'' NV ''lN N'E' 'u' 0pui'Oo' Nll'h, y |
wore drawn thoao idea. which prevailed IN
ta, .ordatioo ot tie penal statutes ol or-
mont, may he readily seen from an cXanino-
ton Of the statute, ihom-.lyc. "rhe early
criminal "rae uf Connecticut observes Il
late writ =. "rccognlcd twelve capital orcn
cos, to which two more wore afterwards add
ed, and all Of which vp'o founded or the
strict prcccpts of the Lcyjticnl law. The
criminal code Of Vermont. adopted in Fcbru
arv, l113, recognized ninc offences punisha-
hle hv DEATH lho,, were treason murder,
arson; rape; h',uaity, sldOmy; bearing
false witness arlinct pers IN Tor The purpose
of causing his death: mutiIHtiou. either hy
mollciuUlv cutting ont or disabling the
tongue. on hv putting ont one or both oi the
cvos. "s, chat the person is thereby made
blind, Yr hy omo tulaton; and hlasphcm-
iny tAc uamn Of Con the FATHER, sos or
llofY GHo,r, with direct. express prcsump-
tiru, aud Ligh-haudcl hla~phomy.' or curs-
ing in the like manner
Other crimes w,rr regarded with a stern
uc approaching almost t. that which char
act.rizai tha Druconiau system. MansIaugh-
ter was punished by the forfeiture to the
state OF ''all the goods and chnttcls' Of the
mauhypr; by whipping "on the naked
hNjy - by branding the hand "with the
!. .Ll 'E VI 'IIl II IlL IRON tlll Wv 'tNl'iAuE
the offender from giving verdict or owl
dnc." ju auy cpult III tb, o4,.. tar- ms
convicted Of I'll. crime Of incest were COM
r.)'.l foo 1T rurou the gulllw> the space If
one hour, with rope about their neck, and
tire other end cas-, over the gallows and in
the way from thence to the common gaol,
were 10 b, severely whipt, not exceeding
thirtv-nine stripes each. Other punishm nts
for thi, offence were stated in these words
persons 50 offending, shall, forever after,
wear a capital letter |, of two inches long
and Of prOportionablc bgncSs, cut out in
cloth of IA contrary colour to their clothes,
and sewed upon their garments, on the out
side of their arm, or on their back, in open
view. And if any person or persons, conyic-
ted and sentenced as as aforesaid, for such Of
fence. shall, at any time be found without
their letter so worn during their abode in
this state. they SHALL by warrant from any
onn assistant or i.>ticn Of the r.acs. b. forth
with arr,boudcd. and ordered to be public
ly whipt, not exceeding fifteen stripes, and
from time to time, or as often as they shall
s, oN-ud.' lnccstuous marriages were also
declared void, and all children born oi such
connections were forever disabled to inherit
by descent, or by being generally named in
any decd or WILL by father or mother.
III ul' statute 'aSlllht anu ipl III. l""'7"-
ment Of adultery the following language
was held whatsoever shall commit adultery
with married woman, or one betrothcd to
another man, both Of them shall b. severely
punished by whipping on the naked body
not exceeding thirty-ninc stripes, and stigma
| tizcd, OF burnt on the forehead with the letter
! \, ON hot iron, and each of them shall
| wear the capital letter y on the back oi then
outside garment, Of "A different color in fail
! view, during their abode in this state. And
as often as such convicted person shall be
seen without such letter, and be thereof con
vlcted before am assistant or justice "i inc
peace in tins state, hcI shall be whipped on
the naked body, not exceeding ten stripes.
/ lhcSamc punlshmcntswere denounced agalnS
those who should hr guilty oi polygamy' an,
| pOlyEamous marriages were declared - hul
and void Vt the session OF the Genera
Assembly in October l1o3, the statutes agains
adultery and pplvgamy were re-oractcJ IN
moro definite form, but with penalties slmlla
To those above rccitcd.
Hous.-hroakmg and highway y-rpbhcry wcr
punished with great severity. "N ho'ocvc
shall commit burglary, these were the word
off he statut"."hy breaking up any dwelling
house. or shop wherein goods, wares an'
m'rc."udi4' are kept; or shall rob any Per
s'u in tine field or AiEhway-such person, s.
offending, shall Tor the first offence, ne brand
cd on the forehead with the capital letter Ii
ON hot iron, and shall have one OF hi, ear
nailed 20 a post and cut oil and shall ais
Joe whipped ON the naked body fifteen stripes
Aud for the second offence, such person shal
br branded as aforesaid, and shall be whippc
on ho naked body twenty-five stripes, I'M
il such person shall commit the like ot.uce
] shall lee nut 81 death TEN