Whoever sets fire to the house of another in a city, shall be arrested
by order of the judge, and condemned to be burned alive; and shall
pay out of his own property the loss incurred by the owner of the
house, as well as the price of the house itself, should the latter
be consumed. He whose house was burned shall swear to the amount of
property therein, in the presence of as many witnesses as the court may
direct, and shall not demand the value of more than he was possessed
of, nor shall he put an excessive estimate upon the value of his house;
and if, after he has made oath, he should be convicted of any fraud,
he shall be compelled to pay twice the amount of the sum exacted as
legal compensation, to whomever the same is due. But if the fire
kindled in the house aforesaid should spread through the neighborhood,
the property of the incendiary shall be equitably distributed in
proportion to the damage incurred by those who lost their house, or
their chattels. If, after satisfaction has been made to him whose house
was set on fire, it should be found that he still had some property
remaining, he must then swear, in the presence of witnesses, that he
did not demand a greater sum than he had lost. And if, after having
made such an oath, it should be found that he has perjured himself,
he shall be compelled to pay double the amount prescribed by law, to
him whom he attempted to defraud. Whoever sets fire to a house outside
a city, shall pay for all property burned in said house, and shall
also, at once, pay the value of the house to the owner; but he whose
house has been burned must declare, under oath and in the presence of
witnesses, that he does not demand a greater sum than he has lost.
And if, after having been sworn, it should appear that he did exact a
greater sum, he shall be compelled to pay double the amount to him who
sustained the injury.
If any houses adjoining the one which was set on fire should be
consumed, and any property of the incendiary should remain, out of
which the owners of said houses can be partially or wholly indemnified,
they shall be entitled to their share. They, also, must make oath, in
the presence of witnesses, that they do not claim an amount: in excess
of their losses; and if it is found that they have perjured themselves,
or have demanded an excessive sum, they shall pay double the amount
thus exacted, to him who was the victim of the fraud, and the
incendiary shall receive a hundred lashes. Anyone having been convicted
of such an offence, who does not possess the property wherewith to make
restitution, shall be reduced to slavery.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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