The Wisconsin weekly blade. [volume] (Madison, Wis.) 1916-1925, 1916-11-30
SOME QUEER LAWS
When New France, In This Coun.
try, Was Ruled From Quebec.
JUSTICE IN EARLY MICHIGAN.
On the Pioneer Days Of the Territory, as
1t Was Then, the Judges Were Not
Lawyers, and the Jurors Were Evi
IDENTIFY Pretty Independent.

from 1922 to 1868, that part Of our
country was a part Of New France
and was governed from the seat Of
government In Quebec. Our laws
came from the French king and from
the local council at Quebec. and many
OF them were quite absurd.
For instance, while they did not at
tempt to regulate the length Of sheets
on hotel beds, they did declare that
besides white bread and light brown
bread all bakers shall make dark
brown bread whenever the same shall
be required" Another Of the old
French laws. probably lobbied through
by some long dead cattle baron, was:
Whereas. The people of this province
raise too many horses. which prevents
them from raising cattle and sheep, being
ignorant OF their true interests. Now
therefore, we command that each inhab-
liant Of this government shall hereafter
own no more than two horses or mares
and one foal. the same TO take effect after
the sowing season Of the ensuing year
no giving them time to rid themselves
OF their horses In excess of said number,
after which they will be required to kill
any OF such excess that may remain in
their possession.
Another law was meant to stop the
congregation of the population In the
cities before 1t really began. 1t was
law
To Promote Agriculture end Protect
Morals
We prohibit and forbid all farmers from
removing to this town, Quebec, under any
,.rl.e
In writing on pain of being expelled and
sent back to their farms. furniture and
goods being conflscated and a fine OF so
francs for the benefit of hospitals And
Furthermore. We forbid the Inhabitants OF
this town. Quebec. letting houses or rooms
to persons coming in from the country on
pain OF fine OF 100 francs, also for hos
pitfalls.
A law forbiddlng profanity provided
the punishment for the first otfense 10
be n pecuniary fine. for the second,
third and fourth repetition the fine was
to be doubled, trIpled and quadrupled,
for the fifth ofense they shah set IN
the pillory on Sunday and other festi-
val days there to remain from I'm tn"
morning till ] in the afternoon. exposed
to all sorts of approbrlum and abuse
The sixth punishment was that they
be led to the pilory and have the upper
lip cut with hot iron For the sew
enth they were to have the lower lip
cut In the same manner, The law fur.
Their provides
And II by reason of obstinacy and in
veterate bad habit they continue after all
these punishments to utter oaths and bias
phemes IL is our VIII and command that
they have the tongue completely cut out
so that hereafter they cannot utter them
again
The judiciary portion of Michigan
territory in the early days was com
posed OF county courts" and Justices
of the peace" The courts" consisted
OF three Judges. none of whom were
lawyers. Their Jurisdiction both civil
and criminal was limited 1t IL need
less to say that the justice courts were
conducted without much regard TO Ger
emory.
In one suit brought to recover the
amount of n note of hand II jury OF six
was lmpanelcd. the foreman Of which
was large and portly individual who
bore the title of colonel. Probably on
account of bis assumed military rank
he was permitted to wear his hat dur
ing the entire trial
One OF the witnesses made repeated
statements that were Irrelevant and
contradictory. and one OF the counsel
as often rose and took exception, but
each time he was overruled 10y thJ, jus-
tice At each objection the colonel
manifested great deal Of annoyance
by tdgeting In his seat and talking IN
loud whispers TO his fellow jurors
Finally the witness made state
ment that was SO opposed to every rule
OF evidence ana common sense TINT the
attorney who had SO often attempted
to exclude this sort of evidence could
no longer silently submit lie again
rose from his seat and respectfully
appealed 10 the court. protesting
against such statements going TO the
jury as testimony.
Thcrcupon the worthy colonel i'm
prcssively rose from his seat and sworC
he would no longer sit there and hear
that lawyer Teller make russ" He
said y" had taken the oath as Juror
10 decide the case according to the evi-
dence, and Il he could not hear the
whole story from the Witness he should
leave the courtroom.
He accordingly made several strides
toward the door when the Justice arose
and. approaching the irate Juror
placed a hand on his shoulder and
begged him to return to hts seat with
the jury, promising that the trouble
some attorney should not again he al
lowed to Interfere with the evidence
After some persuasion the colonel
consented 10 return. Pressing his rat
more firmly ON his head he exclaimed
as he took his seat
Well. IN try 1t once more. bu,
DANCED II viii stand any more of that
lawyer fellcr's nonsense" The attor
ney gave NY in despair. and the oppos
Ing counsel had things al his own way
after that-petroit Saturday Night.
Love.