ANOMALIES OF THE ENGLISH LAW ANOMALIES OF THE ENGLISH LAW BY SAMUEL BEACH CHESTER Of the Middle Temple, Esquire, Barrister-at-Law; Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society; Companion of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, Commandery of Pennsylvania; Member of the (U.S.) Military Service Institution, Governor’s Island, New York Harbour. BOSTON LITTLE, BROWN, AND COMPANY 1912 PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN CONTENTS PAGE INTRODUCTION. A SATIRE ON BARRISTERS, BY CHARLES LEVER 9 CHAPTER I DIVORCE 19 CHAPTER II DEATH AND BURIAL 44 CHAPTER III WILLS 67 CHAPTER IV LIBEL AND SLANDER 81 CHAPTER V IMPRISONMENT FOR DEBT 97 CHAPTER VI THE NEED FOR THE RIGHT OF PROPERTY IN SURNAMES 116 CHAPTER VII LITERARY CENSORSHIP 131 CHAPTER VIII CAPITAL PUNISHMENT, MURDER AND SUICIDE 145 CHAPTER IX LEGITIMATION 165 CHAPTER X CRIMINAL APPEAL AND THE BALL CASE 176 CHAPTER XI CLIENT, SOLICITOR, AND COUNSEL 185 CHAPTER XII THE MORALITY BILL, ACCESSION, AND CORONATION OATHS AND DECLARATIONS 203 APPENDICES. APPENDIX A DIVORCE 229 APPENDIX B CORONERS 233 APPENDIX C THE ROYAL MARRIAGES ACT, 1772 237 APPENDIX D EXECUTIONS 239 APPENDIX E AN ENGLISH LEGITIMATION BILL 243 APPENDIX F THE CRIMINAL APPEAL ACT, 1907 244 APPENDIX G THE CORONATION OATH OF KING GEORGE V 262 APPENDIX H THE POOR PRISONERS’ DEFENCE ACT, THE PERJURY BILL, AND THE CRIMINAL EVIDENCE ACT 265 I DEDICATE THIS WRITING TO MY FRIEND, William H. Cozens-Hardy, OF LINCOLN’S INN. S. B. C. ANOMALIES OF THE ENGLISH LAW INTRODUCTION[1]