Evening journal., 1897-02-01
PUZZLERS In COURT.
POINTS THAT HAVE KEPT THE LAW
YeRS GUESSING.


What Would Make Interesting Vol
ume-several Examples.
An interesting volume might be writ
ten on the curious points of law that |
are constantly arising in the courts |
The most expert lawyers and judges are |
frequently puzzled by the novel situa-
tions in which they are placed.
One of the most curious points Of law |
on record arose recently in a court at
Jersey, in America. The question was
whether eggs, after reaching a certain
stage of incubation, were TO be regarded
as eggs or chickens. After quarreling
about the matter for some time, counsel
offered to break one of the eggs to sat
isfy the law that it contained chicken,
in which case. Of course, the eggs would
have been considerably enhanced in
value, but there was a general demur
to this suggestion, and the justice re-
served his decision till he had consulted
his colleagues. The result had not come
to hand at the time of writing.
A remarkable case in France excited
a great deal Of attention some time ago.
a gentleman dining on the terrace of a
Narbonne restaurant let "A bank note
fall into his soup. He laid it down on
the table to dry and a gust Of wind
blew it away. A passing dog swallowed
the note, and the gentleman detained
the animal, whose collar happened TO
bear its masters name. Indignant at
his loss, the owner of the note sued the
dogs master for 100 francs, the value
of the note. There was much legal hair
splitting, but at length the court ordered
the owner of the deg to pay the money.
Another French case was that against
Paris hairdresser, who was sued by q
lady for eco, being the price of her
damaged locks. The fair claimant had
used the hairdresser's wash, which was
said to restore fallen locks, but the result
in this case was to burn the hair off COM
pletely. The point was the liability of
the hairdresser, and the court awarded
the lady es.
Applications for injunctions often
raise curious points. Not long ago an
injunction was granted to restrain an
officer in the life guards from keeping
horses in q London drawing room, the
ground of objection being the noise
which tho animals made, which annoyed
the neighbors. The offending officer is
now in lunatic asylum.
There was fight not long ago in one
of the London courts between a barrel
organ and piano, an injunction being
claimed to restrain gentleman from
keeping an organ. 1t seemed that the
offender was annoyed by his next door
neighbours piano, and to avenge himself
he obtained a barrel organ, which he
played at all times Of the day. The
question of the liberty of the subject, y
of course, came up, but the court de-
cided that, if an Englishman's house is
his castle, it is not fit place for a bar.
rel organ that never stops, and the organ
received strict instructions to remain
silent, on the ground that the owner evi.
IDENTIFY intended to create nuisance.
The market value Of cough was the
question submitted to the Birmingham
county court. A barrister sued a rail.
way company for $50 for discomfort
suffered by smoking being allowed in 8
waiting room at a station and in non
smoking carriages. The smoking aggra
waited the barrister's cough, and he was
awarded e10.
A queer point arose in the revision
court at Nottingham. While the cour
was sitting young collier named All
cock killed his wife in the most delib
crate manner and afterward confessed
his crime. An application was made
that Allcock's name should be struol
off the register "Why? queried th'
barrister, receiving the answer, BE
cause he is a murderer. THAT re
mains to be proved, =" said the barrister
and the name remained on the roll.
The finding of lost property has Otter
given rise to curious points of law. 4
workman who found valuable ring II
a London theater claimed the return o
the ring from the proprietors, who hat
taken possession of il. The court, how
ever, rejected his claim, as the ring ha
been picked up while the man was ful
filling his duties rs a servant. AT frs
sight this decision appears to be incon
sistent with that arrived at some year
ago in a case in which a chimney swee
sued a jeweler for a precious stone. Th
sweep had found a brooch on his rounds
which he took to the jeweler, who el
tracted precious stone and substitute
worthless imitation. On this bein
discovered, the jeweler replied to th
sweeps demand for the return of HI
stone that the stone did not belong
the sweep, as he had found it, the infei
ence being that he could, therefor'
steal it with impunity. The court, how
ever, held otherwise, and the sweep n
covered his jewel.
Eastern superstitition gave rise to
singular argument in Chinese cou
not long ago. A Chinaman had bee
sent to prison, and, according 10 Gu
tom, the authorities proceeded to cut O
his pigtail, whereupon the prisoner a.
piled for an injunction on the grour
that without his pigtail he could not e.
ter the kingdom of heaven. After muC
legal quarreling the court decided TIA
there is no religion in prison, and th
rho f,ricOppf ,,tucf charQ tho fofq of n