Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-10-16
CURIOSlTIES OF LAW.
Prof. Mayne Mentions Some That Are
Both Amusing and Interesting.

Both Amusing and Interesting
From the town of Inverness, in Scot
land, we have taken this quaint public
notice, writes Prof. R E. Mayne in the
Chicago Globe. 1t was not uncommon
in old Scotch towns, even within the
present century, to have legal enact
ments made known by proclamation in
the market square:
eta hoy! TIE thither ahoyl Ia hoy
three timesI u An ia hoy-whist! BY
command of his Majesty, King George,
and her grace, the Duke Of Argylel II
anybody is found fishing about te loch,
or below to loch, afore tie loch, or ahint
to loch, in te loch, aroun' to loch, or
about to loch, she is to be persecuded
with three persecutions-hrst, she is to
be burnt; syne, she's to be drownt; an
then to be hanght- An If she comes
back she's to be persecutet wi far waur
death. God save the King and her
grace the Duke of Argyle"
One may not be surprised that many
old-fashioned legal institutions should
still exist among the British, who have
received them with the greatest venera-
try's history; but the same can hardly
be said in favor of the States Of the new
world. In New Jersey, for instance,
there is an unrepealed law to the follow
ing effect:
"All women of whatever age, rank,
profession or degree, whether virgins,
maids or widows, who shall after this
act impose upon, seduce or betray into
matrimony any Of his Majesty's sub
jects by virtue of scents, cosmetics,
washes, paints, artificial teeth, false
hair or high-heeled shoes, shall incur
the penalty Of the law now in force
against witchcraft and like INSIDE
meanors."
What check it would be upon the
postprandial flow of eloquence if this
law enacted by Edward III. were still
operative. Edward III. prohibited any
man having more than two courses at
any meal Each man was to have only
two sorts of victuals, and it was pre-
scribed how far one could mix sauce
with his pottage, excepting on certain
feast days, when three courses were al
lowed at meal.
If the same laws were now operative,
a good deal of the after dinner gush at
banquets 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 to
print or publish any new book or pamph-
let of news whatsoever, is illegal; that
it is a 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 on oath that
might be required, and some Of these
persons walked openly into court with a
straw in one Of their shoes, to signify
that they wanted employment as wit
ness; hence originated the expression
''rie's a man of straw" An advocate OF
lawyer who wanted a convenient wit
ness knew by these signs where to find
one, and the colloquy between the
parties was brief. Don't you remem-
ber?" said the advocate. The party
looked deliberately at the fee, but made
no sign of assent; then the fee In
creased, and with 1t his memory also
ITO be sure do"
s'Then come into court and swear 1t.
The only improvement which has grown