Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 01.pdf/198

Rh seen. Such marking shall be due notice of the discoverer's rights and shall be respected as such, and shall establish the ownership in said discoverer of the bees, honey, comb, and contents.

Sec. 2. If such tree be cut or such bees be caught or honey be taken or unnecessarily damaged or the sting of such bee be removed or disturbed to the detriment of the discoverer, unless such sting be lodged in discoverer, the depredator shall on conviction be held guilty of a "beeacide," and shall be punished by any court having jurisdiction of horse-stealing by a fine of 5500, and the discoverer may authorize his bees to sting the depredator.

Sec. 3. This act shall not be construed as giving

NOTES.

permission to commit a trespass or as relieving a trespasser from obligation for damages or prosecu If some of our State Legislatures keep on in the j tion therefor, but the discoverer of such tree, bees mirthful vein manifested by them in various bills or bee stings, or honey may, after having given to which have been introduced of late, the Statute ' the owner or occupant of the premises upon which they were found reasonable written notice of such books will presently become as entertaining read ing as the works of Mark Twain or Josh Billings. discovery and its locality, with a sample bee duly Here is the text of the first section of a bill lately marked and stamped and honey, accompanied by an offer to pay the damages done to the premises con passed by the Nebraska Legislature : — sequent thereon, (and in case of consent he shall pay "It shall be unlawful for any person to fire off or the same at the time of removal,) may, in a civil discharge any pistol, revolver, shotgun, rifle, or any action, recover of such owner or occupant £7 for firearms whatsoever on any public road or highway damages therefor. in any county of the State of Nebraska, or within sixty yards of such public road or highway, except According to a bill under the consideration of to destroy some wild, ferocious, and dangerous beast, the Delaware Legislature, the Judges of the Supe or an officer in the discharge of his duty." rior Court of the counties of the State shall appoint However, as officers are rarely seen on or near a person of known moral character and of proper the public highways, especially when wanted, they clerical ability to take the names, ages, occupa may not, perhaps, run any special risk under this tions, and residence of all applicants for marriage, act. and shall publish them in some daily newspaper eight days or post a printed copy of the same in On January 10 Assemblyman Cottrell, a backsome public place for eight days. Objections to country member, introduced a bill into the New the marriage of any one advertised shall be in York Legislature to protect the rights of persons writing by the complainant, with his or her name discovering " bee trees." It was read twice and and residence, and directed to the appointee of referred, and has just been reported favorably from said county, who shall notify all the parties of the the committee with amendments. How much of time and place for the hearing before the Judges the original bill remains it is hard to say. The of said county, whose decision shall be final. The first three sections are as follows : — fees to be paid in advance by the complainant. Ah act to establish the rights of persons, male or Any clerk of the peace, deputy clerk of the peace, female, discovering bee trees or other natural recep or any persons issuing any marriage licenses in tacles containing bees or honey. violation of the provisions of this act to any person, Section i. It shall be lawful for any person, male or female, in any county of this State, shall, Indian or Chinaman, first discovering or finding a upon conviction before the Superior Court, be bee tree, or tree or other natural receptacle contain ing bees or honey, to mark the bee upon his business - fined in a sum of S500, and shall stand committed end with a rubber stamp or indicate the locality and | without bail until the fine is paid. This is extending the jurisdiction of the court discovery thereof with the initials of his or her name distinctly and openly marked and so placed upon with a vengeance, and the unfortunate judges will such bee as above indicated so that it maybe readily probably have but little time to devote to anything

An amusing incident transpired the other day in the Civil Court in New Orleans. The suit was one in damages resulting from a collision between a buggy and a milk-cart. The counsel for the defendant argued for fully half an hour to show that the buggy had struck the cart several minutes before the cart had touched the buggy. The judge, the audience, and the members of the bar laughed, and the counsel thought it strange!