Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-12-06
When The
Law Looks Like
ApuzZ|e

W. EHEN the average American finds himself in
w y"lyra win the law and stands before the Bar of
w Justice either as plaintiff or defendant he usually
completely bcwidcrcd by all the legal proceedings
the first place he isn't likely 20 be familiar with the
language and the arguments of his attorney and
@ the opposition sound like double talk,
And m the second place the law itself and the in
tcrpretaton that Judges put it's likely to be the
modern American equivalent ancient Chinese puzzle
Even the shrewdcst OF lawyers sometimes-opcuy
admits that he baffled by Justice American court
damned with bewildering decisions that are
confusing to the attorney to the ayman
collection Of queer court was recently compiled
by woll-known Philadelphia lawyer. Just how the
Judges arrived their decisions in these
puzzlng to the compiler as to the layman
Take for example the case of the North Carolina SUI
preme Court Justice who ruled that it not larceny to
sylpe a tombstone.
The defendant had been found guilty of larceny
law in lower court but appeal he was ordered
acquitted by the Supreme Court.
Here is how the presiding justice arrived at his de-
tombstone adhered to the soil, and therefore
was land" in eyes Of the law and under common
law, land could not be feloniously taken away.
In another queer North Carolina case the court ruled
that hunter who shot and killed another hunter could
go because the law requiring gunncrs 10 take cut
licenses not for tho purpose of preventing suicide
This odd to the courts attention when the
hunter who ont looking for game without license,
arrested mansaughter charges after he accidentally
sent bullet through a fellow nimrod.
The prosecutor argued that the guilty Of
slaughter had caused death the commission
unlawful act nasmuch he did not have license
to hunt
The court however thought differently. decided
that person got the line Of fire of a ncar-sightcd
gunner who couldn't distinguish between and game
would make any difference whether the hunter had
license not-'becausc the law requiring gunners TO
take licenses for the purpose Of preventing
suicide"
And while you are puzzling over just the Judge
rived at that consider the strange Mississippi
yovtuE Two other hunters
These uimrods hunting independently Both
fired highway at fleeing partrdges Instead
Of hitting 'he birds walking down the road was shot
and killed
This raised the question Who shot the man. Both
had fired simultaneously It impossible tell
from 'te pellets which shotgun had fired the fatal shot
unlike pistol shotguns do not leave tel-tale barrel
marks tI.c lead pellets
The Mississippi. court however was not baffcd by the
problem IT. simply held that both hunters were liable 1t
too bad for the hunter who did shoot the
Many these odd decisions DO death
Ie..c but .ettues the the who
happily hoeg bis corn one day they concern hurt feelings
THUS man o 'He fields showed his contcntucut with the
sor4 at r-, by VhIs,.ug he worked until Ehbor
along and accused of having beaten path
'hs n.'ehbor's land 70 certain Mrs Fullers'
TioH SAYS the record re1eIrl4e 10 tl4ate+s-
f,t bad throw down his hoe and left the field
Later DE became melancholy his healthy complexion
aIef beneath the strain he lost his appetite and had 10
extra hcp 10 get his crops his worried
state he couldn't efficiently before SO To get
loyal relief he sued his acrscr for libel bI, hc cot nowhere
a.a1se the court held accusation didn't prove
t.at farmers character had been injured.
human combustion has proved knotty problem to
many courts and The ayuau viii he surprised find that
w must ignite ia very definite manner if his family is to
collect f.- Insurance.
j.. Sew York for example there was suit au an ac,i-
.I' policy .usurnE against death ty off, and In
consequence Of the BURNING building while the insured
beneficiary is therein.
The e,ldsnc. disclosed chat The clothing ~ . insured
.f-at FIVE While lu tac building that She died as a
result j would naturally ae assumed chat tho f.u .y Of
ft deceased would collect t, insurance policy boat the
court Thought differently and RULED
aaln, 'aat portion OF tu. building, ,..e
tat Us thor, ANY proof IRON. which N. nf,r.rce
.f ha arf., .,r.'' drawn ~ tII ti.' tle bairg
" . parts ~ t.' ht'l ct't,'d ~, decreased 'o 'lru"
f..Is 'f' stH"H-aI might fatally