The Dickinson press., 1889-06-15
STOCKS AND HOT IRONS.
SEVERE LAWS THAT WERE IN FORCE
EARLY IN THE CENTURY.
Death Without Benefit Of tho Clergy.
Tongues of BlaSphemers Bored Grimes
for Which Slaves Could Isc Hanged and
Ouartcrcd-The Sabbath Laws,

CHARTERED Tho Sabbath Laws.
Tho old Maryland criminal laws, many OF
which continued in force in the District after
the ccssion of the ten miles square to the
Federal government. provided for many Gu
rious punishmcnts which would now be con
sidered barbarous. Some of these laws re
main unrcpraled by congress. These laws
are set forth in two old volumes, unfamiliar
at least to laymea, known as Kilty's Digest.
published at the beginning of the century A
glance through First Kitty shows that at
each successive session CT tho general Assem-
bly, provision was male to make the law
more effective by providing fees for inform
crs or by increasing the penalties.
TO PREVENT FALSE SWEARING.
In 1872 al act was passed providing that a
person convicted of procuring wituess to
swear falsely shall forfeit $40 or suffer i'm,
%prisonment one whole year and stand in the
pillory ono hour, and that afterward he shall
not be received as a witness. The second sec
ton provides that u person convicted Of
willful perjury shall forfeit e2O. suffer six
months imprisonment, and, if he shall not
nave the goods to pay the s2O, shall be set in
the pillory and have both ears /. lied. AS in
the case of the procurer. he could not after
ward lie received as u witness. A subse
qucnt act. however, provided that u person
so convicted may give evidence against con
victed persons.
In Ills an act was passed providing that
justices OF the county courts shall have juris
d!ction in cases of thieving and stealing when
the goods are not over LOCO pounds of tohac
co in value, and have power to impose penal
ties of fourfold the value Of the stolen prop
,o%, a.. a., t,.. e., &lo ,--r;,,-l >o,&-
putting III the pillory and whipping, not OK
ceeding forty stripes. If incapable of return
ing the fourfold, the convicted person shall
receive the corporal punishment and satisfy
the claim against him. and tho fees for con
viction by servitnde. A subsequent olfense
by tho party, if the goods arc of tho value of
twelve shillings, is made triable in Il provin
cial court. On conviction he shall pay four
fold, bo branded with n hot iron and receive
other corporal punishment, as the court shall
three months old, or to conceal or disfiSure a
mark Oh swine. subjected the offender to sim
liar penalties
TIE BLAsrnEMY ACT.
Theact of 1925. chapter rs, is what is known
as the blasphcmy act, and provides for the
punishment of blasphcmers, swcarers, drunk.
ards and Sabbath breakers. The first section
provides that any person who shull whiting
ly. maliciously and advisedly, by writing or
speaking. blasphcme or curse God, deny
the Saviour to be the Son of God, or deny
the Trinity, shall for the first offcnsc be bor-
ed through the tongue and fined Ego. For
the second ofrensa he shall be burned in the
forehead with the letter B and fined $40, and
in default of payment be imprisoned twelve
months. For tho third otfcnsc tho punish
mcnt is death without the benefit of clergy.
For profanc swearing in the presence of q
magistrate, minister, v%eStryman, warden or
constable, a mar could be punished by n fine
of Is. for the first and IS. for each subsequent
oath.
Any person who should be drunk before
any one of the officials or dignitalies men
toned was liable to n fine of five shillings for
every such otfense. No person was, however.
to receive more than thirty-nino lashes Or
over three hours in tho stocks for any one
offense. When the fines were not ilnmedi
ately paid and tho accused was not a free
holder or respectable person, it was the ma
gistlatc's duty to order him whipped or put
in tho stocks. Tho magistrate had power to
appoint a person as constable for the purpose,
who, if no refused to act, was liable to a fine
of ten shillings. A like penalty was imposed
on the magistrate or other officer guilty
themselves of cursing, swearing or drunken
ness, or emitting to enforce the law No
person was permitted to work on tho Sab
bath or suffer such to DO done, or allow his
children, servant or slaves to engage in
gaming, hunting, fishing or other unlawful
pastimes on that day, under n penalty of POO
pounds of tobacco.