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Fees. The fees for services in courts of law, and for the foreclosure of mortgages in chancery, are regulated by chapters 342 and 386.

OHIO. The "acts of a general nature," passed by the thirtyeighth general assembly of Ohio, which commenced its session in December last, occupy two hundred octavo pages, and those "of a local nature as many more.

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Juries. In civil actions brought before justices of the peace, except in those which are now triable by a jury, either of the parties may require a trial by jury, provided the defendant shall dispute the plaintiff's claim, or the plaintiff the defendant's defence. Feb. 14, 1840.

Steamboats. Proceedings for the collection of claims against steamboats and other water crafts are regulated by a statute passed Feb. 26, 1840.

Divorce and alimony. The supreme court is declared to have the sole cognizance of granting divorces for the following causes: First, where either of the parties had a former wife or husband living at the time of solemnizing the second marriage; second, when either of the parties shall have been wilfully absent from the other three years; third, adultery; fourth, impotency; fifth, extreme cruelty; sixth, fraudulent contract; seventh, gross neglect of duty; eighth, habitual drunkenness for three years; ninth, where either party has been, or shall hereafter be sentenced to imprisonment and actually imprisoned in the penitentiary of this state, or in the penitentiary or state prison of any other state or territory of the United States, or the district of Columbia, for any violation of the laws of the United States; or where either party has been or shall hereafter be sentenced to imprisonment, and actually imprisoned in the penitentiary of this state, for any violation of the criminal laws of this state, or in the penitentiary or state prison of any of the United States or either of the territories thereof, or the district of Columbia, for any crime or offence against the laws of either of said states, territories or district of Columbia: provided, such crime or offence against the laws of

such state, territory, or district of Columbia be of the same character or grade as is or may be by the laws of this state punished by imprisonment in the penitentiary: and, provided also, that all applications for divorce, under the ninth clause of this section, shall be made during the imprisonment of the adverse party. March 6, 1840.

Exemptions from execution. Each person who has a family is entitled to hold the following property exempt from execution or sale, for any debt, damages, fine, or amercement, to wit: first, the wearing apparel of such family, the beds, bedsteads and bedding necessary for the use of such family; one stove and pipe, used either for cooking or for warming the dwelling house; an amount of fuel snfficient for the period of sixty days, actually provided and designed for the use of such family; secondly, one cow, or if the debtor own no cow, household furniture, to be selected by the debtor, not exceeding fifteen dollars in value; two swine, or the pork therefrom, or if the debtor own no swine, household or kitchen furniture to be selected by the debtor, not exceeding six dollars in value; six sheep, the wool shorn from them, and the cloth or other articles manufactured therefrom, or in lieu of such sheep, household or kitchen furniture, to be selected by the debtor, not exceeding ten dollars in value, and sufficient food for such animals, when owned by the debtor, for the period of sixty days; thirdly, the bibles, hymn books, psalm books, testaments and school books used in the family, and all family pictures; fourthly, any amount of provisions actually prepared and designed for the sustenance of such family, not exceeding forty dollars in value, to be selected by the debtor, and such other articles of household and kitchen furniture, or either, necessary for the debtor and his family, and to be selected by the debtor, not exceeding thirty dollars in value; fifthly, the tools and implements of the debtor, necessary for carrying on his trade or business, whether mechanical or agricultural, to be selected by him, not exceeding fifty dollars in value. March 9, 1840.

Wills. The several laws relating to wills are revised and consolidated in a statute passed March 23, containing seventy-four sections.

Settlement of estates. An act, passed March 23, 1840, to provide for the settlement of the estates of deceased persons, contains a revision and reënactment of all the prior laws on the subject, in two hundred and forty-eight sections, arranged in ten parts.

KENTUCKY. The statutes passed by the general assembly of Kentucky, at the December session, 1839, amount to four hundred and thirty-six in number, and are mostly of a private or local

nature.

Intestates without heirs. The estates of persons dying intestate without heirs or distributees are vested in the commonwealth without office found.

Chap. 86.

Fugitives from justice. Proceedings for the apprehension of offenders from other states, and of offenders absconding from Kentucky, are regulated by chap. 180.

Concealment of slaves. Free negroes, mulattoes and Indians, harboring or concealing a runaway slave, or enticing away any slave, or advising a slave to abscond, are liable to be punished by thirty-nine lashes on the bare back. Chap. 194.

Idiots and lunatics. Inquisitions of idiocy and lunacy are to be made in open court, and the idiot or lunatic to be brought in for the inspection and examination of the jurors, unless, by reason of ill health, or incapability of control, the party cannot safely be brought into court. Chap. 279.

Descent and distribution. The mother of a bastard child is made capable to inherit and take by descent or distribution the property of such child; and brothers and sisters of the same mother, born out of wedlock, to inherit, &c., from each other, as though born in wedlock. Chap. 356.

INDIANA.

The general assembly of Indiana, at its session, which commenced December 2, 1839, passed seventy-three acts of a general nature.

Amalgamation of whites and blacks. Marriages between negroes, mulattoes, and persons having one eighth part of negro blood, with whites, are prohibited under the penalty of fine and imprisonment in the state's prison. Chap. 14.

Elections. Palming tickets upon a voter who cannot read, different from those desired, with intent to deceive, &c. is punishable by

fine. Chap. 47.

Insane persons.

When complaint is made on oath to a justice of the peace, that any person is insane and dangerous to the community, the justice is required to summon a jury to inquire into the truth of the complaint; and, if they find it true, the justice is to appoint some one to take charge of the insane person. Chap.

52.

TENNESSEE. The general assembly of this state, at the session thereof, which commenced in October, 1839, and terminated in January, 1840, passed one hundred and sixty-two acts and fifteen joint resolutions,

Prison bounds. The prison bounds for the confinement of debtors in each county are established at one mile square, including the courthouse and jail. Chap. 6.

Proof and acknowledgment of deeds and other instruments. An act to provide for the probate and registration of deeds and other instruments, enacts:

1. That deeds of every description may be proved by two subscribing witnesses, or acknowledged and recorded, and may then be read in evidence;

§ 2. That deeds executed beyond the limits of the United States may be proved or acknowledged before a notary public, or before any consul, minister, or ambassador of the United States, or before a commissioner of the state;

3. That the governor may appoint commissioners in other states and in foreign countries for the proof, &c. of deeds;

4. Affidavits taken as above, as to pedigree or heirship, may be received as evidence, by executors or administrators, or in regard to the partition and distribution of property or estates.

The other sections of this important statute relate to matters of detail. Chap. 26.

Aliens. Aliens, declaring their intention to become naturalized, are forthwith entitled to hold and dispose of real estate, and to

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transmit the same to their heirs, as if they were native citizens. Chap. 35.

Laws of other states.

The courts of Tennessee are authorized

to take notice of the statutes and laws of the other states of the union, as contained in the public printed statute book of any state or territory. Chap. 45.

Descent and distribution. When a child or heir is advanced, by a gift of real or personal estate, either in the lifetime of the ancestor, or by a testamentary provision, such advancement is to be brought into contribution, in the partition and distribution of the real and personal estate. Chap. 48.

Divorce. Divorces may be granted in favor of females removing from other states, and residing in Tennessee for two years, in the case of a malicious and unreasonable abandonment by the husband for two years; and also where the husband has been guilty of any of the acts constituting good cause for divorce by the laws of Tennessee, notwithstanding such abandonment or cause of divorce occurred in some other state. Chap. 54.

CONNECTICUT. Among the forty public acts of the legislature of this state, passed at its May session, 1840, we find the following:

Book-debt. The action of book debt is made a concurrent remedy with the action of assumpsit for use and occupation. Chap. 8.

Laws and decisions of other states. The reports of the judicial decisions of other states and countries may be judicially noticed by the courts, as evidence of the common law of such states or countries, and of the judicial construction of the statutes or other laws thereof. Chap. 9.

Elections and registration. By chapters nineteen and twenty, provision is made for the registration of voters, and the conducting of elections.

Partition is authorized between a surviving cotenant of an estate in common or joint-tenancy, and the devisee of a deceased cotenant, where there is a contingent interest therein by way of

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