Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1877-04-12

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We Sad G fSaoking statement q
defnitions = ne subject Of Eng 4
Law md I1Jes. eompred by cor y
pos1nt @ Pubnn1ed in . kss &c
Of - Dess<sssv .Auboesse: "
No accusation Of crime can be law
fully ms1e bY the.lsws Of England. ex-
cePt before grand jury, sworn to se-
crecy; and twelve mast decide that il
is true, before the party can be required
to answer.
Verdict Of juries must be unanimous.
that every sone< nsy be responsible o!
his own conscience and to the parties,
and thai the decision may he ennsidered
- certainty, not probability.
No English Judge can pass sentence
greater than the Law prescrib~s; but he
may diminish the extreme severity d
the law, Is the case requires.
Proof d guilt lies with the sccuser,
and the accused is not expectedt prove
4 negative. Proof also should be posi-
tive, and not presnmptive. An doubts
are construed favorably to the accused:
and the opinions OF 4 Judge oaght-to
have no weight with a Jury, every one
Of whom ought to think for himself and
decide for himself. nj ea.fs-'r &c
Petty turies are special for civil cases
or for trials Of treason, or political Of.
fences and consist Of free-holders Of
l~asn 4 DIR. - >-~A-s,. .-xra~.s - -
ssons Of smaller estate, for civil or GRIM
inal cases. Their verdict should be
matter Of certainty, not probability or
possibility: and, of this certainty, every
one of the twelve is bound to be Salts
fed before he consents 10 the verdict.
which is the sole and entire affair Of the
jury, whatever may be the declared
opinion or apparent wishes Of the Judge
or court. All proof Of guilt rests with
the prosecution: and guilt Is not TO be
inferred If innocency is not proved, for
that is often impossible and never re-
quired; while il il Of far less conse-
quence that even 80 guilty escape the
vengeance Of the law, than that one In
nocent man should suffer BY hasty and
erroneous verdict; for, after the verdic,
of The jury, the law assumes the guilt as
matter Of certainty. and does not libel
the Jury BY sentence qualified by any
doubt Of guilt. The jury are alsojudges
or the criminal intention, as well ss OF
the fact; and they must BE satisfied with
proof Of both before they assef,tto YER
Dict. which decides both on the fact and
the criminal purpose. ~ Z ~
Prothonotaries are officers for record
ing the proceedings or decisions of courts
OF law.
A solicitor is properly only an attor-
ney, who conducts suits in equity.
The Posse Commifatus is the whole
male population, called out by the sher-
if or two justices; and all not attending
are liable TO be imprisoned.
The court Of Pirpoudre is formed at
all fairs, by the steward, for summary
redress Of wrongs in the fair.
The kings tribute, or relief, by Will
liam l., was, for an earl, 8 Warehouses,
saddled and bridled, 4 hunters, and |
palfrey. with armor and weapons. A
baron paid half: a vavasor, or squire,
his best horse and complete armor; a
farmer, his best beast; and tenant, a
years rent.
Magma Charta was a charter for the
mobiles, extortcd from King John: and
extended TO the people by the petition
of right conceded BY Charles l., and BY
the bill Of rights, 1888.
The original Of Magma Charta, pre-
served in the British Museum, is 14l
inches broad and 2O4 inches long. An
other copy is II by 81.
Free-farm-rent is composition paid
by a whole borough, or town, to the
lord, in lieu Of individual claims; and
this arrangement produced free bor-
oughs and their representation. Mid
dlesex pays to tins day. by the sheriffs,
4 free-farm- rent of $500 per annum.
A Heriot comes from the Saxon Here
geat, tribute Of weapons.
Titles, customs, Sc, in law, are i'm
even before Edward H., or
1910.
BY the custom Of gavel-kind. IN parts
Of Kent, an estate is divided among all
the sons; and that Of an interstate broth
er, among his brothers. 1t is disliked
by the aristocraey, but much approved
by moralists and public,sts.
From 1910 till 1862, the business and
plead,ngs OF the law courts were in Nor
man French. The pleas were then in
and the English enrolments in
Latin. But, in the age Of Cromwell,
both were in English; and it was so
settled in 1890.
A Feod. or feud, was a grant Of land
to a vassal, on condition to the lord. as
for military service, &c. This was the
feudai system.
The Kings Tifle.-Henry the VII,
was the first King Of England who as
sumed the title OF Majesty. Before his
reign, the Sovereigns were usually adj
dressed My Liege," and ~ our Grace"
The latter epithet vas originally con-
fe,red on Henry the w.: Excellent
Grace" was given TO Henry the W.;
Most High aud Mighty Prince" 10
Edward the ~; "Highness" TO Henry
the VII: which last expression, and
Grace" was used to Henry
the VIII. About the end of this reign,
all titles were absorbed by that of"Ma-
iesty," with which Francis the l., ad-
dressed him at their interview in 1920.
James the l.. coupled this title to the
present Sacred" or "Most Excellent
Majesty"
Before the union Of the Crowns, Bril-
tain alone was IN general use, in the
style Of our Sovereisns, to signify Eng
land and Wales. Alfred, however, was
called Governor Of the Christians of