Memoir, Correspondence, and Miscellanies, From the Papers of Thomas Jefferson, Volume 1Jefferson, Thomas
History
Memoir, Correspondence, and Miscellanies, From the Papers of Thomas Jefferson, Volume 1
Jefferson, Thomas
United States -- Politics and government -- 1775-1783; United States -- Politics and government -- 1783-1865
** Arson was a felony at Common law--3 Inst. 66; punished by
a fine, Ll. Æthelst. 6. But LI. Cnuti, 61. make it a ‘scetus
inexpiable.’ ‘Hus brec and baernet and open thyfth and
asbereniorth and hlaford swice after woruld laga is
boileds.’ Word for word, ‘House break and burnt, and open
theft, and manifest murdher, and lord-treachery, after
world’s law is bootless.’ Bracton says, it was punished by
death. ‘Si quis turbida seditione iricendium fecerit
nequiter et in felonia, vel ob inimicitias, vel praedandi
causa, capital puniatur pcena vel sententia.’ Bract. L. 3.
c. 27. He defines it as commissible by burning ‘cedes alien
as.’ Ib. Britton, c. 9. ‘Ausi soitenquis de ceux que
felonise-ment en temps de pees eient a litre blees ou autre
messons ars, et ceux que ser-rount de ceo alteyniz, soient
ars issint que eux soient punys par mesme cele chose dount
ils pecherent.’ Fleia, L. I. c. 37. is a copy of Bracton.
The Mirror, c. 1. § 8. says, ‘Ardours sont que ardent cilie,
ville, maison home, maison beast, ou auters chatelx, de lour
felonie en temps de pace pour haine ou vengeance.’ Again, c.
2. § II., pointing oul the words of the appellor ‘jeo dise
que Sebright, &c. entiel meas. on ou hiens mist de feu.’
Coke, 3 Inst. 67. says, ‘The ancient authors extended this
felony further than houses, viz. to stacks of corn, waynes
or carts of coal, wood, or other goods.’ He defines it as
commissibie, not only on the inset houses, parcel of the
mansion-house, but the outset also, as barn, stable, cow-
house, sheep-house, dairy-house, mill-house, and the like,
parcel of the mansion house.’ But ‘burning of a barn, being
no parcel of a mansion-house, is no felony,’ unless there be
corn or hay within it. Ib. The 22 k. 23 Car. 2. and 9 G. 1.
are the principal statutes against arson. They extend the
offence beyond the Common law.
If any person shall, within this Commonwealth, or, being a citizen
thereof, shall without the same, wilfully destroy,* or run** away with
any sea-vessel, or goods laden on board thereof, or plunder or pilfer
any wreck, he shall be condemned to hard labor five years in the public
works, and shall make good the loss of the sufferers threefold.
* Ann. st. 2. c. 9. 12 Ann. c. 18. 4 G. 1. c. 12. 26 G. 2.
c. 19.
** 11 h 12 W.3. c.7.
Whosoever committeth Robbery,* shall be condemned to hard labor four
years in the public works, and shall make double reparation to the
persons injured.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account