The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1916-10-30
SOME QUEER LAWS
When New France, In This coun-
try, Was Ruled From Quebec.
JUSTICE IN EARLY MICHIGAN.
In the Pioneer Days Of the Territory, as
1t Was Then, the Judges Wcro Not
Lawyers, and the Jurors Were Evil
IDENTIFY Pretty Independents.

1t Was Then, the Judges Wero Not
Lawyers, and the Jurors Were Evil
IDENTIFY Pretty Independents.
Before there was any Michigan
from 1922 to 1863. that part Of our
country was n 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 ut Quebec, and many
OF Them We're quite absurd.
For Instance, white they did not at
Tempt To reguhrc the length of sheets
Oh hotol 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 " the OLD
French laws, probably obbied through
by some long dead cattle baron. was
Whereas. The people OF this province
raise too many horses. whiSl 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
NN ~ ~ Alpit iisaN wv siplrtS OF llAlN0
and one foal, the same a take effect after
the sowing season Of the ensuing year
lIl0. giving them time to rid themselves
OF their horses in excess Of said number,
after which they will be required 10 XIII
any OF such excess that may remain III
their possession.
Another law was meant to stola tile
congregation Of the population in the
cities before it really began. 1t was Il
law
To Promote Agriculture and Protect
Morals.
We prohibit and forbid an farmers from
removing to this town, Quebec. undor any
preteXt whatever. without our Npeimiasion
in writing, on pain of being expelled and
gent back TO their farms furniture and
goods being conhscated and a fine OF 30
cranes 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 line OF 100 francs also for hos
| pitfalls.
4 law forbidding profanity provided
the punishment for the FIRST onense 20
be pecunary fine. for the second,
| third and fourth repetition the fine was
| TO bc doubled, trlpled and quadupled
| FOR the fifth offense they shall set in
the pillory on Sunday and other festi-
| val days. there 10 remain from S in the
morning til in the afternoon. exposed
to al sorts OF apWoOrium ana abuse
| The sixth punishment was that they
he led to the pillory aud have the upper
| Up cut with hot iron. For the soy
| cDth they were TO have the lower liz
| cut in the same manner The law fur
| ,her provides;
l And IL BY reason OF obstinacy and in
| veterato bad habit they continue after all
| these punshments &c. utter oaths and bias
| phemlea 1t 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
pissed of county courts and justices
| 8, the peace" The courts consisted
| a. three Judges none of whom were
Jaw yrrs. Thor Jurisdiction, both civil
End criminal. was limited. II is need
| css e. say that the Justice courts were
| conducted without much regard to Ger
| amony
In one suit brought TO recover thu
amount OF note Of hand a jury of six
was iInpaneled. the foreman Of which
Yves u urge and portly individual who
| pore the title of colonel Probably ON
| account Of his assumed military rank
he was permitted TO wear his hat dur
| Ing the entire trial
| One of the witnesses made repeated
| ,tstements that were irrelevant and
contradictory. aud one OF the counsel
as often rose and took exception, but
each time he was overruled by the jus
| tice. At each objection the colonel
| manifested a great deal of annoyance
BY fidgeting in his seat and talking IN
| ioud whispers 10 his fellow Jurors
Finally the witness made state.
nent that was SO opposed to every rule
OF evidence and common sense that the
| attorney who had so often attempted
TO exclude this sort of evidence could
no longer silently submit. He again
rose from his scat aId respectfully
| appealed 10 the court. protesting
| against such statements going to the
Jury as testimony
| Thereupon the worthy colonel inn
lrcssively rose from his seat and swore
he would no longer sit there ana hear
;hat lawyer feller make II fuss He
| ,lid hc had taken the cath as 4 juror
| TO decide the case according TO the cyi-
| lencc. ana If he could not hear the
whole story from the witness he should
leave Tie courtroom.
lie accordingly made several strides
toward the door when the Justice arose
| and approaching the irate juror.
placed hand on his shoulder and
besgc1 him TO return 70 his scat with
the Jury, promising that the iroube-
solac attorney should not again he al
lowed to interfere with the evidence
| After some persuasion the colonel
consented TO return. Pressing his hat
more firmly on his head he exclaimed
| as he took lis seat.
| "Wcll I'll try ii once more. but