The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-12-30
FOuR.FOOTED FEIONs.
Curious Old French Laws=pigs and Cattle
Executed for Murder.

| A learned iuriseonsult, M. Berriat ST..
| rriy. examining the archives Of the old
French criminal courts. found more
than sixty accounts OF trials in which
swine or other animals were placed at
the bar as criminals, or offenders 40
eussd Of crime. These occurred at va
rious dates, from the twelfth century
down far into the seventeenth-th lat
ter centuries Of the Middle Ages and
the earlier OF the modern. The Church
has been accustomed to pronounce
anathemas. on some occasions. against
certain noKious vsrmin, such as field
mice, May bugs. eaterpillars, snails and
others h1rtful to the farms aud gardens.
But the criminal trial of animals was
different thing altogether. The in
stances ferreted out by M. Berriat st.
Pfix related mostly TO ofte nders OF the
poreine genus. but some applied to bulls
or COWS and other animals.
One Of the trials took place in the
year 1866. The officer of Justice Of the
Monastery OF Sainte Genevisve brought
to trial hog that had killed and partly
devoured a poor little infant at Fonte-
nay aux Roses, near Paris. The eulprit.
found guilty. was sentenced TO the pun
ishinent Of being roasted to death an
example Of roast pork which will proba-
bly, be rather new TO most readers.
Again. in the year 1886, magistrate
Of Falaise, in Normandy. after formal
examination into the facts, condemned
T. So " IT t ted If lee: ttla
head. and then to be hanged, for having
killed and partly devoured an infant.
OF course the prisoner at the bar was
neither asked nor expected to give evi-
denee in her own defense. The eTeeu-
tioner was furnished with new gloves ON
the occasion.
Again The judicial officer Of the Alb.
hey Of Beaupre. near Beauvais, institut-
ed O. formal inquiry into O charge
brought against q bull. of having
vieiollsly killed q maiden thirteen years
Of age, in the Seigneurie Of Cantry. a
dependency Of the Abbey. The facts
were investigated. the animal found
guilty. sentence passed, and the bull
put TO death by hanging. So far as APP
pears. the four footed beasts condemned
after these curious trials were not put
out of the world In the Usual way they
suffered the more igneminious death of
felons.
just before the close of the fifteenth
century. in the time Of Henry the Sev.
enth. geological trial-if the term may
be used-was held, concerning which NJ /.
Berriat St. Prix gives us some OF the
technical records of procedure. It was
held before the bailli or judicial officer
| Of the Abbey Of Josaphat. near Chartres
Monday. April IL. 1870. an inquiry was
held before us, at the request OF the
proeureur of Messieurs the Monks OF
the Abbey Of Josaphat, against Jehan
Delalands and his wife, prisoners in the
| jail Of this abbey. by reason Of the I'M
timely death Of child named Gilon,
about year and half old. which child
had been duly nursed and nourished by
its mother. The child was murdered
| by pig. about the age OF three months.
| belonging to the said Delalande and
| bis wife. Considering the charge
brought. and the evidence taken, we
have condemned and do hereby CON
denim the said pig. for the reason and
facts established. TO be hanged and ex-
eotited by our exeeutioner, In the juris.
dietion of Messieurs our Superiors, and
| by virtue Of our definite and lawful
power. Given under The eountersign OIL
the said bailliage. the year and day
above named. Signed, g.. Briseg.'
There is no statement that Delalande
and his wife bore any part OF the pun.
ishment inflicted on their poreine prop
| Gfty,