Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-30
OLD. TIME CUSTOMS.
Revelations Found In . Register Of
1865 by Bessie Bramble.
CAPITAL CRIMES IN ENGLAND.
Msdams de Pompadour's Position and
Power in the French Court.
HOW A BRIDE SAVED HER GOWN
lnxrrrnN ron THE p,srArcnl

go WRITTEN FOR THE DrsPAroA
The forgers, embezzlers and thieves Of to
day have reason to congratulate themselves
that they did not live in 1865. In the can
nual Register" of that year is recorded a
large number of executions for offenses in
their line. A man named Edward McGinnis
and his sister were sentenced to death 70,
stealing some silver plate from the house Of
their master. John Wilford was executed
for stealing horse, and lady's maid, for
appropriating a piece Of jewelry that be-
longed to her mistress. was duly tried and
sentenced to death, while John Wilson, for
forging bin Of exchange for 81, 900, was
convicted and speedily put to death.
How the more humane sentiments q pity,
sympathy and benevolence have grown
since those days is shown by the milde1
punishments meted out to the worst Of
tenders, and by the increasing opposition to
capital punishment, even for murder. Prts-
oners to-day in our palatisl penitentiaries-
In all save Eberty-are better off than many
honest folks outside. They suffer not from
the cold of winter or the heat of summers.
They have good food, regular employment,
and plenty to read. Benevolence is ever at
work in their behalf, and kind friends are
ever praying and working for their reform.
RESULTS OF OLD METHODS.
IF the old English way were in vogue
the executioners would be kept busy-the
rascals would not long be the subjects of
prayer-nor would the burglars and thieves
revel in fine linen and fare sumptuously
every day, with little to be dreaded in store
for them, save the loss of liberty alone for
short period. "spare: the rod and spoil
the child" says that alleged wisest Of all
men, Solomon, but the growing fashion of
the day is to spare the rod altogether on the
ground that using it does vastly more harm
than good. To the great comfort of the
miserable sinners" of the world, the doc
trine of the eternal punishment is also
going out of style, and a great demand is
being made for such revision of creeds and
catechism as will blot out the horrors of
eternal punishment for the great majority
of mankind, and break up q monopoly Of
heaven by the few "elect"
But there was no Elizabeth Fry In the
days of George Ill to visit the prisons and
endeavor to mitigate their horrors, No one
then thought OF preaching that punish
ment did not subserve to the security of the
r III ~ de.ar Fro,a go. ~ IA rct
tsnJ 70 +be raforn,a+ior of onn ~ -
ra4b.- incrsosed dece;t b1nocr;sn' har5n..s n; as
of heart, hatred and revenge.
ENFORCING OLD TARIFF LAVA
In those days when tariff was the fashion
In England, instead of free trade as at
present, the importation of silks. yeIyeta
and other goods from France was especially
prohibited. One lady, as related was ar
rested and held for trial at the GuiIdhall ON
the supposition that handkerchief seized
upon her person was Frencn camorle She
was conVlcteo OF tne nelnous onense OF
possessing thls hteie arucle OF frencn man
uIacture oy cleaa PROOF ana sentenced to
pay nne OF IZeoLa Pretty dear piece OF
nnery, oesioes tne COSTS ana Inc dlsgrace OF
@Pupiio tilAE
oehJa.n1n LIE fenAIn was IN Ionaon IN tns
year Oh LOO on CoIonlal business bis
idea as 70. elect1icisy ana ugntnlng were
hooteo ~ ny tne hoyai ooclety AZ nrSt, out
altei mscn s .uisUuss.oh' ahu Deing lnoorseo
p5 VIC ianous .unon, Vi nance # Lanoe, Iney were
1uoP.eu ae iea' oluenS Ane sooiety nnally
maze more ehan amehus lor Hs neglect ana
oontsp. aia ~ SoAIn y. apPI PIeI PIeotasion ol hls
SO VICES @ W soieuIe nc was eieceeu memoe5
VI tho ausGss pGuy anu aWalueu golo
LIN II Snich anu IDS. nc iGceivea ~ .ne uegree
oi Doetor ol Laws from tne universities OF
O1iolp H anu Euin1Ilgn'
IN tne nroh!Iies .t oi tnis year re-
o1r9eu' PeinaPs, 'ne nrss e1perimenI @ Oh ap-
PaynS e.eo.f,o'y as ouiasifs. Inc case
was tnas VI Molnan nno nao l0ss ner
sPeecn ny cohvuisiohs; oy tne apphcatlon
G1 sne ISs NeIe ouicI anu ner VOICE festoreo-
auid mi tha ,anA ILL % ~ WAS present,
eaiI VIC ieoo:u, Ana " was Vastly Paeaseo' ano
no ies' SUI Piiseu d. 'no iesul'.
CHEATING HIS oREDlToRa
One of the oddities of English law and a
way to get around it is illustrated by case
recorded of bride appearing to be married
in church at Whitehaven. As the story
goes, when she had advanced little way
into the church, the bridemaid began to un-
dress her, until finally arrayed and adorned
in only one under garment she went to the
altar and was married to the man of her
choice by the reverend clergyman This
queer wedding is explained on the ground
that owing to an embarrassment in the hus-
bands financial affairs, 1t was deemed ad-
visable to do this in order that it should ap-
pear that with her he received no other
portion than the garment she
stood up in before the altar. By the old
English law everything the bride owned
houses or lands, or money, or jewels, or
clotnes, became tne sole properly OF the nus
. Dano as soon as tne woros were SAID that made
then husoanu anu "ne' hence tnis plan