Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1902-08-14
AN ANCIENT EDICT
rOriGual.1

| MA1y OF the laws of medieval times
were very curious. At first cases were
decided by combat, and it was long
while before the jury system came into
use. In those days punishment was
very disproportionate to the crime.
During the reign of King Edward Nv.
OF England young girl of Yorkshire
was w-ooed by two lovers, the one
a young farmer of her own rank, the
other the profiigate son of a wealthy
merchant. Robert Dangerfeld, the
farmer, held the principal place in
Marjory's affections, but Tom Ricketts,,
the merchants son, being heir to great
prospective wealth, was rival to be
dreaded. Ricketts, was a great rascal
and at first never intended to marry
the girl, but Marjory was we'll able
to take care of herself. and the young
scapegrace soon discovered that he
could only have her, if at all, after q
legitimate wedding ceremony. AS soon
as he came unto this condition Mar
jory, possibly in order to tantalize
him, declared that she intended, after
all, to wed Robert Dangerfeld.
Ricketts, by this time was madIy in
love and ready to commit any crime
to gain the girl. One dark night he
stole sheep from one Of his fathers
tenants, carried it to the cottage Of his
rival and tethered it to the doorpost.
Robert awoke in the morning and was
| astonished to find the sheep, which,
with the simple faith Of that day, he
/ off hi
heaven. Tom Ricketts, told the owner
that he had seen his animal in posses
sion Of Dangerfeld. The young farmer
was arrested and thrown into prison
on charge OF sheep stealing. Then
Ricketts, rode to the home Of Marjory
to tell her the news:
| "Dangerfield has been sheep stealing.
He is in prison and will be tried and
hanged Do not waste more time, Mar
gerry, in listening to men Of low de-
gree. Set the day for our wedding.
We will travel and see foreign lands,
and when we return will build cas-
tie for you to live in"
Now, Marjory was no fool She
knew that Ricketts, was in earnest,
but she distrusted him. Furthermore,
she had will of her own and usually
took the opposite side from sheer OBJ
stinacy.
II won't marry you, Tom Ricketts,"
she said, IF you build twenty castles.
am going to marry Robert Danger.
neld.'
"You mean if Robert is not hanged"
II will marry him whether he is
hanged or not"
Marjory visited Dangerfeld In prison
and asked him what she could do to
save him Her lover babe her go to
Bleckstun, famous lawyer Of that
name, and ask him if he could suggest
any way out of the difficulty. Bleck-
stun familiarized himself with the case,
then questioned Marjory.
you say that you love the accused?'
he said.
81 do"
"And will marry him If he is ac-
] Quitted?'
Eyes, and If he is hanged"
what! Marry him in prison on the
eve Of execution.
II will marry him at the foot Of the
gallows."
The lawyer babe her go and tell the
prisoner, that there was hope for him,
but that his escape from death, If at
ALL would be by hairs breadth.
| Dangerfield was tried, but the law
yer did not appear to defend him. The
evidence against him was so strong,
the sheep having been found tethered
to his door, that he was pronounced
| guilty and sentenced to be hanged.
He offered to decide the matter by
combat with Ricketts,, whom he sus-
pected of having brought the misfor-
tune upon him, but Ricketts, declined
on the ground that he was not the
1 owner Of the sheep.
The day of the execution was ho1i-
day, as all such days Were ut that time,
though Dangerfield's neighbors We're
plunged in grief, for he was much re-
spected among them, and they did not
see why he should have stolen one
sheep when he was the possessor of
several hundred. Marjory went with
him to the gallows, and. seeing Tom
Ricketts, by the way among the lockers
on, she gave him scowl of defiance
and hatred. On arriving at the place
Of execution she cast a glance over the
assembled multitude and was aston
ished to see among them the lawyer
BleckStun.
When all was ready and the hang
man was about to adjust the moose,
Marjory cried out:
II claim this man in marriage
There was the silence of surprise
among the spectators, then further as
constituent when Bleckstun arose from
his seat and said in a loud voice:
''And claim him as Il free man.
"Who are you?" asked the sheriff.
II am Edmond Bleckstul"
There was a hum i'll the assembly,
for all knew of the wonderful legal
wisdom of the renowned Bleckstun.
ION what ground do you claim the
prisoner"'
"Under an edict of his most gracious
maipStV KING JN1wors1 ~ which com,