The Twelve Tables eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 25 pages of information about The Twelve Tables.

The Twelve Tables eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 25 pages of information about The Twelve Tables.

11.  Who shall have destroyed by burning a building or a stack of corn set alongside a house is ordered to be bound, scourged, burned to death, provided that knowingly and consciously he shall have committed this; but if this be by accident [, that is] by negligence, either he is ordered to repair the damage or, if he be too poor to be competent for such punishment, he shall be chastised more lightly.

12.  Any person who shall have felled wrongfully (iniuria) other persons’ trees shall pay 25 asses for every [tree].

13.  If theft has been done by night, if [owner] has killed him (the thief), he (the thief) shall be [held] killed lawfully (iure).

14.  It is forbidden that a thief be killed by day ...  Unless he (the thief) defend himself with a weapon, even though he (the thief) shall have come with a weapon, unless he (the thief) shall use that weapon and shall resist, you shall not kill him.  And even if he (the thief) resist, [you] shall shout [, that some persons may hear and assemble].[47]

15.  In the case of all other thieves caught in the act [it is ordained] that freemen be scourged and be adjudged [as bondsmen] to the person against whom the theft has been committed, provided that they had done this by day and had not defended themselves with a weapon; that slaves caught in the act of theft be whipped with scourges and be thrown from the rock;[48] that boys below the age of puberty (under 15 years old) be flogged at [the magistrate’s] discretion and that damage done by them be repaired.

16.  Thefts which have been discovered through [use of] platter and loincloth [shall be punished just as if the culprits had been caught in the act].  For cases of stolen goods discovered (furtum conceptum) [by other means than by platter and loincloth] or introduced (furtum oblatum) the penalty is triple [damages].[49]

17.  If a person plead on case of theft, in which [the thief] shall not be caught in the act, [the thief] shall compound for the loss by [paying] double [damages].[50]

18.  A stolen thing is debarred from prescription (usucapio).[51]

19.  No person shall practise usury at a rate of more than one-twelfth[52] ... [if he do,] a usurer shall be condemned for quadruple [damages].

20.  In a suit concerning an article deposited [with a person who has failed to return the article] legal action (actio) for double [damages is granted].

21. [If] guardians (tutor et curator) [be suspected of mal-administration, there is] the right to accuse [them] on suspicion ... the legal action (actio) against guardians (tutor) [shall be] for double [damages].

22.  If a patron (patronus) shall have defrauded a client (cliens), he shall be forfeited solemnly (sacer).[53]

23.  Whoever shall have allowed himself to be called as a witness or shall have been a scales-bearer (libripens),[54] if he [as a witness] pronounce not his testimony, he shall be dishonored and incapable of giving evidence (intestabilis).

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The Twelve Tables from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.