Weekly Trinity journal., 1878-01-05
LAW A HUNDRED YEARS AGO.

The Albany LdW Journal inds in
Halls history of Eastern Vermont some
account of the laws which were in force
hundred years ago.
burglary was punished by branding
with b on the forehead, and mailing one
of tho Offenders ears to post and cutting
it off, and whipping; for the second Of
fence there was the like branding, and
cutting off Of the other ear; for the third
offence the punishment was death, the
offender being deemed 'incorngible. -
Counterteiting was punished by cutting
off the right ear, branding with c, an6
perpetual Imprisonment. Perjury was
punished by fine Of $50 and imprison-
ment for six months, but if the offender
could not pay the fine he was let of by
sitting in the pillory two hours, and hay
ing both ears nailed and cut off. Willful
lying, to public prejudice or private in
jury, or deceiving or abusing the people
with false news or reports, was punished
by fine, sitting in the stocks and whipping,
the punishment being increased with each
repetition OF the offence, except that in no
case was the number of stripes to exceed
the number of thirty-nine. Theft was
punished by compelling three fold resti-
tuition, by fine and by sort of temporary
slavery, the prosecutor being empowered
to dispose Of any offender in service to any
subject of the state for such time as he
should be assigned to the prosecutor by
tho court. Unreasonable night walking,
that is to say after nine o'clock, was pro-
hibited, as was also the convening otper-
sons under the government Of parents,
guardians or masters after that untimely
hour. Tavern haunters were publish ed
by posting their names at the door ofevery
tavern prohibiting the tavern-keeper from
supplying them with anything in the way
ofstrong drink. No clamorous discourse,
shouting, hailooing, screaming, running,
riding, dancing, jumping, swimming or
blowing Of horns was tolerated on the
Lords day. Listening outside of a meet
ing house during the time of public wor-
ship was not permitted. Secular meet
ings of any number Of persons in the
street or elsewhere on Saturday or Mon
day evenings were forbidden under pen
atty of q fine or the stocks.
Mr.. Hall gives several notable instances
Of popular legal errors prevailing in Yer
mont. One notion was that if the friends
of one dying in prison carried his remains
/ beyond the boundaries Of the Jail yard,
they were accomplices of an escape and
liable to satisfy the judgment by virtue
Of which ho had been confined. Another
notion was that if one should bury :he
body OF an unmprisoned debtor he there
by became administrator in his own
wrong, and liable to discharge the debtors
obligations. In the case of Judge Chand
Ter, who died while confined in Jail fol
debt, his interment became n serious prob
lem. In this predicament the jailor dis
covered that by stretching the chain h,
could include within the Jail liberties
> small portion Of the adjoining burying
ground. A grave was dug, commencing
just outside the graveyard fence and jus
; within tho jail-yard, sloping unde
: the fence, until sufficient depth an,
obliquity was obtained. SO Judge Chand
Ter was buried after Christian fashion an
yet no escape was suffered"