The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1890-11-05
CURioslrlES OF LAW.
PSaf Msyne nIontIons Some That Ar.
10th Amusing md Intarcstln..


Both Amusing and IutorestiuS.
From the town of Inverness, in Scot
land, we have taken this Quaint public
notice, writes Prof. r. L. Mayne in tho
Chicago Globe. 1t was not uncommon
In Oil Scotch towns, oven within tho
presena century, to havo legal enact
ments aade known by proclamation in
the market squire:
eta hoy! ne luther ahor! Ia how
three times! An Ia hoy--whist! By
command of his Majesty, King George,
and her grace, tho Duke of argyle! If
anybody is found fishing about to loch,
or below te loch, aforo to loch, or ahint
TIC loch, in to loch. aroun' tc loch, or
about to loch, she is to be pcrsccuded
with three pcrsecutions-frst, sho is to
be burnt; sync, she's to be d,Sownt: an
then to be haught. An if she comes
back she's to be pcrsecutct wi u far waur
death. God savo tho King and her
grace tho Duke of Argyle"
One may not DO surprised that niany
old-fashioncd legal institutions should
still exist among the British, who have
received them with the greatest vcncra-
ton from tho dark ages OF thci~ coun-
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 unrcpcaied 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, scducc or bctray into
matrimonY any Of his Maicsty's sub
jects by virtue OF scents, cosmetics,
washes, painss, artificial teeth, false
hair or high-tfsclcd shoes, shall incur
tho penalty OF the law now III force
against witchcraft and like misdc-
iacancrs.''
What y check it would be upon the
postprandial flow of cloquenca If this
law enacted by Edward III. were still
operative. Edward III. prohibited any
man having moro than two courses at
any meal. Each man was to have onlv
two sorts OF victuals, and it was pre-.
scf:bod how far one could mix sauce
with his pottage, excepting on certain
feast days, wi.en three courses wore al
lowed at 4 meal.
If tho same laws were now operative,
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 i'll declaring that 20
print or publish any now book or pamph-
let OF news Whatsoever, is illcmal; that
IL is manifest intent to the breach of
the peace, and they may hc proceeded
against by law foran illegal thing.
Many years ago mon 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
RIGS man of straw" An advocate or
lawyer who waited convenient wit.
ness knew by thasc signs whcro to find
ono, and the colloquy between the
parties was brici. Don't YOU rciacm-
bcr?' said tho advocate The party
looked deliberately 4. tho fec. but made
no sign Of assent; then tho fec in.
creased. and with 1T his memory also.
$40 be sure ! do
"Then come into court and swear it,"
Tho only Improvement which has grown
CGb ol LHiS peculiar custom Is on the Dlrt
Of the straw man. Nowadays your straw
man will work for half the original fec.
When pleading as an art was scarcely
developed the courts used to hear suits
tgainst animals. by tho old law OF
france, If Il vicious animal killed a
person and it was proved that his
owner knew of its propensity to kill,
and suffered it TO go at large, he
#as hanged, and tho animal was also
N 1914 u bull having killed man by
tossing him with its horns was brough,
before the judge and indicted rs q Grim.
-nal. After several witnesses had sworn
against it, tho court condemned it to
be hanged. This sentence was confirmed
by an order of Parliament and carried
into effect.
Old historical books tell us that rs late
as 1850 the French had proper laws for
the punishment Of offensive rats locusts.
flies and lccchcs. This was going very
far. To-day we should all be made very
happy If some genius would devise and
and put into practical work ing a law for
the determination of tho mosquito.
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