Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 03.pdf/317

 288 from the circumstance of the donation being made on the first morning after the consum mation of the marriage. The wife's interest in her husband's prop erty was generally held to be liable for the payment of his debts; and her separate prop erty could be made subject to such liens, when the wife consented. The influence of the Roman law is trace able in at least one passage of the Sachsen-

spiegel, referring to gifts between husband and wife. While such gifts were valid in more ancient times, they were declared void by the Sachsenspiegel; and the same rule, borrowed from the Law of Rome, is found in the English Law. Bracton states that such gifts were void; so does the writer of PI eta; and it is only since the case of Mitchell v. Mitchell, decided in 171 2, that such gifts were held to be good in equity.

THE SCIENTIFIC DETECTION OF CRIME. OF late years science has aided us to the appearance of the individual is changed such an extent that the escape of a to a great extent, the affair becomes more criminal now-a-days is made a much less serious for the detectives. As a general easy matter than it was half a century ago. thing, they are furnished only with a photo Chemistry, the microscope and spectroscope graph, and with this they are to pick out are generally unerring detectives, and supply of hundreds of criminals the one they are the authorities in a wonderful way with in search of. A very accurate description also accompanies the picture. So easy is damning proofs for conviction. So accu rately do they perform their work that the it for the criminal to alter his entire ap merest traces of the organic fluids are dis pearance that in a short time a complete covered; and the spectroscope, if supplied metamorphosis is effected. Criminals have even with an almost inappreciable amount gone so far as to cut off a finger, or have of poison or blood, will furnish sufficient pulled out several front teeth, to conceS their evidence to hang a guilty man. It would identity. Of all disguises the most effectual be strange if the advancement were all on are produced by the use of washes and dyes one side, and it is not. A comparison of to alter the color of the hair. Some years the criminal records of ten years ago and ago this method of disguise was considered those of to-day will show frequently that out of the question, and it was not till Orpoisons which are the most difficult of de fila, the renowned chemist, testified to the tection and of the most recent discovery contrary, that it was believed practicable. are chosen by poisoners, and that alterations The first case of this kind where identity in personal appearance are effected by ap was doubted occurred in Paris, where a mur propriate chemical reagents, suggesting that der had been committed. One witness swore the professional criminal has generally some that he had seen the suspected person at knowledge of the advance of chemistry. ten o'clock in the morning at Paris, and To consider the subject most systemati affirmed that his hair was black; while cally, it is necessary that we should bear others testified that they had seen him in two points in view, — first, the apprehension Versailles, with fair hair, at five or six of the criminal; and, secondly, his convic o'clock of the same evening. The man's tion. Certain peculiarities often render hair was naturally jet black, and it does identification a comparatively easy matter; not appear that he wore a wig. The ques but when these marks are obliterated, and tion in consequence proposed to Orfila by