The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1917-02-15
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, a.
1t Was Then, the Judges Were Not
Lawyers, and the Jurors Were Evil
IDENTIFY Pretty Independent.


1t Was Then, the Judges Were Not
Lawyers, and the Jurors Were Evil
IDENTITY Pretty Independent.
Before there was any Michigan"
from 1922 to 1853, 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
1710 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 it really began. It was a
law
To Promote Agriculture and Protect
Morals.
We prohibit and forbid all farmers from
removing to this town, Quebec, under any
preteXt whatever, without our permission
in writing, on pain of being expelled and
sent back to their farms, furniture and
goods being confiscated and a fine of 50
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.
law fOrbidding profanity provided
the punishment for the first Offense to
be a pecuniary fine. for the second,
third and fourth repetition the fine was
to be doubled, tripled and quadrupled,
for the fifth Offense they shall set in
the pillory Oh Sunday and other festi-
val days, there to remain from 8 in the
morning till in the afternoon. exposed
to all sorts of apprObrium and abuse
The sixth punishment was that they
be led to the pillory 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 if by reason Of obstinacy and in
veterate bad habit they continue after all
these punshments to utter oaths and bias
phemies it is our will 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 is need
less to say that the justice courts were
conducted without much regard to GER
emory.
Ill OLc SulC W lCSOFCI IuC
amount of note of hand a jury of six
was impaneled, the foreman of which
was large and pOrtly individual who
bore 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
RI fc haf irro on6
contradictory. and 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 great deal of annoyance
by fidgeting in his seat and talking in
loud whispers to his fellow jurors.
Finally the witness made a state
ment 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 seat and respectfully
appealed to the court. protesting
against such statements going to the
jury as testimony.
ThereupOn the worthy colonel i'm
pressiyely rose from his seat and SwOre
he would no longer sit there and hear
that lawyer Teller make fuss He
said he bad taken the cath as Il juror
to decide the case according to the evil
dence, and if 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 hand ON his shoulder and
begged him to return to his seat with
the jury. promising that the trouble
some attorney should not again be 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 his seat:
"Well. I'll try it once more. but
DANCED if will stand any more of that
lawyer feller's nonsense" The attor-
ney gave up in despair. and the oppos-
ing counsel had things all his own way
after that.-Detroit Saturday Night.