The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1890-10-31
CURloSlT.IES OF LAW.
PrSf. M,ync Mentions Some Tint Arc
Both Amusing ana Interesting.

Both Amusing ana Interesting.
From tho town of Inverness, in Scot
land, we have taken this quaint public
notice, writes Prof. II. L. Maync in the
Chicago Globe. 1t was not uncommon
IN old Scotch towns. even within the
present century. To have legal enact
mcnts made known by proclamation in
the market square:
la hoy. ne thithcr ahoy! Ia hoy
three times. ! An ia hoy--whist. By
command of his Majesty, King George,
and her greco, tho Duke of Arrylc, If
anybody is found fishing about to loch,
or below IT, loch, aforc to loch, or ahint
TIC loch, in tc loch, aroun' to loch. or
about tie loch, she is to be pcrsccudcd
with three pcrsccutions--first, she is 10
be burnt: sync, she's to be drownt; an
then To be hanght. An if sho comes
back she's to be persccutct wi far waur
death. God save tho King and her
grace the Duke of Argyle"
ono may not be surprised that many
old-fashioncd legal institutions should
still exist among the British, who have
received them with the greatest vcncra-
ton from the dark ages of thci~ coun-
trys history; but the same can hardly
be said in favor of the States of the new.
world. In Now Jersey, for instance,
there is an unrcpealcd law to tho follow
ing effect:
"All women of whatever age, rank,
profession or degree, whether virgins,
maids or widows, who shall after this
act impose upon, Scduce or bctray into
matrimony any OF his Maicsty's sub
1ectS by virtue OF scents, cosmetics,
washes, paints, artificial teeth, false
hair or high-hcclcd shoes, Shall incur
the penalty Of tho law now in force
against witchcraft and like INSIDE
mcanors."
What check it would be upon the
postprandial flow of cloquencc if this
law enacted by Edward III. were still
operative. Edward Ill. prohibited any
man having more than two courses ut
any meal. Each man was to have ONLY
two sorts of victuals, and it was pre-
scribed how far ono could mix sauce
with his pottagc, excepting on certain
feast days, when three courses were al
lowed ut Il meal.
If the same laws were now operative.
Il good deal Of the after dinner gush at
banqucts would never be heard.
In the reign of the English Charles
H., the Chief Justice, whose record was
both famous and infamous, hoodwinked
his brother justices in declaring that 20
print or publish any new book or pamph-
let of news whatsoever, is illegal; that
1t Is manifest intent to the breach OF
the peace and they may be proceeded
against by law for an illegal thing.
Many years ago men could easily be
found to give any evidence OH oath that
1Itrl, l,nt
persons walked openly into court with
straw in one OF their shoes, to signify
that they wan:cd employment as wit
ness; hence originated the expression
''rie's man of straw" An advocate or
lawyer who wanted a convenient wit
ness know by these signs whore to find
one, and the colloquy between the
parties WAS brief. Don't you remem.
bcr?' said the advocate. Tho party
looked deliberately at the fee, but made
no sign of assent; then the fee in.
creased, and with 1T his memory also.
10 be sure do"
'Then come into court and swear it,"
The only Improvement which has grown
out of this peculiar custom is on the part
Of the straw man. Nowadays your straw
man will work for half the original fen
when pleading as ar art was scarcely
developed inc courts used to hear suits
against animals by tho old law of
France, if a vicious animal killed
person and it was proved that his
owner knew Of it's propensity to kill,
and suffered it to go at large, he
vas hanged. and the animal was also.
IN 1914 Il bull having killed man by
tossing him with its horns was brought
before the judge and indicted as IL Grim
:nal. After several witnesses had sworn
against it, the court condemned it to
DC hanged. This sentence was confirmed
by an order of Parliament and carried
into effect.
Old historical books tell us that as late
as 1870 the French had proper laws for
tho punishmcnto of offensive rats, locusts,
flies and lccchcs. This was going very
far. To-day VIC should all be made very
happy if some genius would devise and
and put into practical working n law for
the determination of tho mosquito.