Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 09.pdf/110

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SINGLE NUMBERS, 50 CENTS.

Communications in regard to the contents of the Magazine should be addressed to the Editor, HORACE W. FULLER, 15^ Beacon Street, Boston, Mass. The Editor "¡util be glad to receive contributions of articles of moderate length upon subjects of inter est to the profession; also anything in the way of legal antiquities or curiosities, facetia, anec dotes, etc. LEGAL ANTIQUITIES.

IT is interesting to note in the old statutes of Virginia and Maryland the honor that for decades hedged around the domestic hog. The crime of hog-stealing is minutely defined and specified, and vested with bitter retribution. It was enacted by the Maryland Assembly that for the first offense the criminal should stand in the pillory "four compleat hours," have his ears cropped, and pay treble damages; for the second offense be stigmatized on the forehead with the letter H, and pay treble damages; for the third be ad judged a " fellon," and therefore receive capital punishment. In Virginia in 1748 the hog-stealer for the first offense received " twenty-five lashes well laid on at the publick whipping-post "; for the second offense he was set two hours in the pillory and had both ears nailed thereto, at the end of two hours to have the ears slit loose; for the third offense, death. Were the culprit in either prov ince a slave, the cruelty and punishment were doubled. • For all hog-stealers, whether bond or free, there was no benefit of clergy. — Curious Punishments of Bygone Days.

FACETIÆ.

SOME good stories are told of the wit and humor of Judge Wilson of Ohio. In a divorce case tried before him the parties were young, had been married less than a year, and the testimony led the judge to conclude that it was a case of mother-in-law on both sides. He interrupted one of the counsel with, " I will postpone further hearing of this case for one month; the mothers-in-law may consider them selves on their own recognizances to keep the

peace. I believe the young people will come together again." Another wife was suing for divorce on the ground of drunkenness, and the husband's coun sel argued : " Why, your honor, I don't believe there is any man in this room who has not drunk more liquor than the plaintiff has proved against her husband." "Except the Court, except the Court," inter rupted Judge Wilson. Several lawyers gathered in Judge Wilson's room after adjournment of court, and were dis cussing the retirement of a member of the bar. Among them was one whose practice is worth $25,000 a year. He said : " I have been prac ticing several years and am well fixed. I have thought I would like to retire and devote my remaining years to studies I have neglected." "Study law," put in Judge Wilson.

A WESTERN member of Congress was describ ing to the Hon. Thaddeus Stevens a certain township in his district, and, after expatiating upon the fertility of its soil, the salubrity of its climate, and the magnificence of its scenery, wound up by saying that all it wanted was plenty of water and good society. "That is all they want in hell," said Mr. Stevens. "Do I understand you to say," queried the barrister, looking hard at the principal witness, "That upon hearing a noise in the hall you rose quickly, lit a candle and went to the head of the stairs — that a burglar was at the foot of the stairs, and you did not see him? Are you blind?" "Must I tell the truth? " stammered the wit ness, blushing to the roots of his hair. "The whole truth," was the stern reply. "Then," replied the witness, brushing aside his damp, clinging locks, and wiping the perspir ation from his clammy brow, " my wife was in front of me." 87