The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-01-15
cURiOSiTiES or LAW.

Pr0f. Mayne Mentions some That Are
10th Amusing and Interesting.
From tho town OF Inverness, in Scot
land, we have taken this quaint public
notice, writes Prof. r. E. Mayne in the
Chicago Globe. It was not uncommon
in old Scotch towns, even within the
present century, to nave legal enact
ments made known By proclamation in
the market square:
"Ta hoyl re thithcr ahoy! Is hoy
three times! An ia hoy-whist! BY
command of his Majesty, King George.
and her grace. the Duke Of Argyle! /:
anybody is found fishing about te loch,
or below tie loch, aforc to loch, Or ahint
tc loch, In tc loch, aroun' to loch, or
about te loch, she is to be pcrscclded
with three persecutions-frs:, she is to
be burnt; sync. she's to BIO drowEt; an
then to be hanght. An II she comes
back she's to be pcrsecutet wi a far waur
death. God save tho King and her
grace the Duke Of Argyle"
Ono may not be surprised that many
cld-fashioncd legal institutions should
still exist among the British, who have
| received them with the greatest .erera-
| ton from the dark ages OF thei" coun-
try's history; but the same can hardly
be said in favor Of tho States Of the rev
world. In New Jersey, for instance,
there is an unrcpcalcd law to the follow
ing effect:
"All women of whatever age, rank.
profession or degree, whether virgins,
| maids or widows, who shall after :nis
act impose upon, scduce or bctray into
matrimony any OF his Majcsty's snh-
| iects by virtue OF scents, cosmetics,
washes, paints: artificial teeth, false
hair or high-hccled shoes, shall incur
the penalty o: tho law now in force
| against witchcrsft aal lkc INSIDE
meanOrs."
| What check 1t would DO upon the
postprandial flow of cloquence II this
law enacted by Edward III. wcro still
operative. Edward III. prohibited any
man having moro than two courses at
ny meal. Each man WAS to hare only
two sorts Of yictuals, and it was pro-
scribed how far one could mix sauce
with his pottagc. excepting on certain
feast days, when three courses we're al
lowed at meal.
II 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
ILL.,, 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 q 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
fouud to give any evidence on oath that
might he reauircd, and some OF these
persons walked openly into court with q
straw in one Of their shoes, to signify
that they wanted employment as wit
ness; hence originated tho expression
"rie's . man OF straw" An advocate o,
lawyer who wanted convenient wit
ness knew by these signs where to find
ono. and the eolloquy between the
parties was brief. Don't you remem
bcr?" said tho advocate. The party
looked deliberately at tho fee. but made
no sign OF assent; then tho fee In
creased. and with 1t his memory also
ITO be sure do"
sThen como into court and swear It.
The only Improvement which has grown
out OF this peculiar custom is on the par
OF the straw man. Nowadays your straw
,pan will work for half the original fec
When pleading as an art was scarcely
developed the eou4ts used to hear suits
against animals. by the old law o
France, II vicious animsl killed ,
person and 1t was proved that hi
owner knew Of Its propensity to kill
and suffered 1t to go At large. ~
was hanged, and the animal WAS also
In 1914 bull having killed man b.
tossing him with its horns was brough
before the Judge and indicted as Grim
inaI. After several witnesses had sworn
against IL, the court condemned II h
be hanged. This sentence was conarme'
by an order OF Parliament and carrie,
into effect.
Old historical books tell W that IS lat,
as 1850 the French had proper lave TO
. the punishment OF offensive rats, locusts
flies and lceches. This was going yer,
far. To-day wo should all be made YER.
happy II some genius would devise IN,
and put tsto practical working = law 70
the exterminstiop Of the mosquito.