The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1880-10-14
Married Woman's Rights in mississippi:


The new code in Mississippi going into
effect November 1, 1880, has cut up by
the roots all the ancient disabilities of
married women, and they are now free
and equal in every respect to their hus-
bands. It is the most radical legislation
yet had upon the subject:
''SEcTIoN 1,167. The common law, as to the
disabilities of married women, its effect on the
rights of property of the wife, is totally abro.
gated, and marriage shall not be held to impose
any disability or incapacity on a woman as to
the ownership, acquisition or disposition OF
property Of any sort, or as to her capacity to
make contracts, and do all acts in reference to
property which she could lawfully do if she was
not married; but every woman now married, or
hereafter to be married shall have the same ca
pacity to acquire, hold, manage, control, use,
enjoy, and dispose of all property, real and
personal, in possession or expectance, and to
make any contract in reference to it, and to bind
herself, personally, and to sue and be sued
with all the rights and liabilities incident there
to. as if she was not married.
''SEc. 1,16s. Husband and wife may sue
each other.
"SEc 1.169 A married woman may dispose
of her estate, real and personal by last will and
testament, in the same manner as II she was
not married
"SEC. LILO. Dover and courtesy, as here
tofore known, are abolished"
Other sections conform the general
laws to these radical changes. Husband
and wife inherit from each other all their
respective property, if there be no chill
dren, and each a child's part if there be
children, or the descendants of children.
They may dissent from each others wills,
and take of each others estate according
to law, except that if there be no chill
dren, in case of such dissent, the dis
sentient gets only half of the estate, if
he or she has no estate of his or her own.
If the dissentient has property of his or
her own equal to one-fifth of what he or
she would be entitled to in the others
estate, then the deficiency is to be made
up ont of the others estate.
This legislation will attract attention
in other States. AualGnche.
killing Snakes for Living.
There resides at this place celebrated
hunter, trapper and snake tanner, by the
name of John Geer. He is married, and
has family of children. During the
winter months Geer earns living by
hunting birds and trapping foxes, bears
and other animals, for which this region
is noted. His summers are spent in
catching rattlesnakes, which are very
numerous around Basket. Geer knows
where there are several rattlesnake dens,
and he frequently visits them with as
much unconcern as though he was going
on whortleberry expedition. He has a
dog that usually accompanies him to the
mountain when on a rattlesnake hunt,
which, by long practice, has acquired as
great skill in dispatching the reptiles as
the hunter and trapper himself.
Whi1a hnnf1n0 md frQY,r,Inp nava
Geer says he can make far more money
by killing rattlesnakes and selling the
oil. He always carries crotched stick.
When he comes upon a snake, he care
fully places the crotch over the reptiles
neck, just back of the head. Then, if
he desires to keep the snake alive, he re-,
moves the poison by the aid of instru-
ments made for the purpose. But he
seldom keeps the snake alive, but kills
them, and has regular process for ex-
tracting the oil from their bodies This
oil is very valuable, and sells readily for
one dollar per ounce. It is said to have
great curative powers. Geer says the
present has been an exceedingly good
year for snakes, and that he has killed
nearly hundred during the past three
months. He claims that he can make a
good living at the snake business. He is
not afraid of the reptiles, and asserts
that he can cure their bites without fail.
-NetC York Times