Page:Collier's New Encyclopedia v. 09.djvu/83

STAR CHAMBER 57 STARK, JOHN jurisdiction of the Star Chamber, where the king chose to remit the capital sen- tence. The form of proceeding was by written information and interrogatories, except when the accused person con- fessed. Regardless of the existing rule that the confession must be free and uncon- strained, pressure of every kind, includ- ing torture, was used to procure ack- nowledgments of guilt; admissions of the most immaterial facts were construed into confessions; and fine, imprison- ment, and mutilation inflicted on a mere oral proceeding, without hearing the accused, by a court consisting of the im- mediate representatives of prerogative. In 1641 a bill was carried in both Houses which decreed the abolition of the Star Chamber and the equally unpopular High Commission Court. STARFISH, in zoology, a popular name for any individual of the family Asteri- adse or Asteridss; applied specifically to the common starfish, A. (Uraster) rub ens, a familiar object on the Atlantic coasts. The body is more or less star shaped, and consists of a central por- tion, or disk, surrounded by five or more lobes, or arms, radiating from the body and containing prolongations of the vis- STARFISHES AND BRITTLE STARS 1 — Common Starfish (Asterias rubens) ; 2 — Gibbous Starlet (Asterina gibbosa) ; S — Common Starfish, reproducing rays ; 4 — Eyed Cribella (Cribella oculata) ; 5— Lesser Sand-star (Ophiura albida). cera; but in some forms the central disk extends so as to include the rays, ren- dering the animal pentagonal in shape. The integument is of a leathery texture, and is often strengthened by calcareous plates or spines. The mouth is situated in the center of the lower surface of the body, and the anus is either absent or on the upper surface. Locomotion is effected by means of peculiar tube-like processes, which are protruded from the under surface of the arms. The nervous system consists of a gangliated cord surrounding the mouth, and sending fila- ments to each of the arms. The young generally pass through a free larval stage, and parthenogenesis seems to oc- cur in Asterias. Starfish are extremely voracious, and are very annoying to fishermen by devouring their bait. They possess in a high degree the power of reproducing lost members and abound in all seas. STARGARD, a town of East Pomera- nia, Prussia; on the navigable Ihna, 25 miles E. S. E. of Stettin. Its well-pre- served walls are surmounted by hand- some towers, and its chief buildings are the Gothic Marienkirche of the 16th century, with richly adorned interior, a Rathhaus of the llfch century, the quaint Protzensche Haus, and a higher Biirgerschule of 1860. It manufactures woolens, linens, leather, etc., and trades in grain and cattle. Stargard, de- stroyed by the Poles in 1120, was raised to the rank of a town in 1229, joined the Hanseatic League, and was strongly fortified. It was important during the Thirty Years' War. Pop. about 27,500. STARK, JOHN, an American military oflficer; born in Londonderry, N. H., Aug. 28, 1728; joined the troops under Major Rogers in the war against the French and Indians in 1754; rendered efficient service at Ticonderoga in 1758, and was actively employed in the subsequent cam- paign. In 1775, after the battle of Lex- ington he received a colonel's commis- sion, and recruited a regiment which formed the left of the American line at Bunker Hill. In December, 1776, he marched with his regiment under Gen- eral Gates to re-enforce Washington and was with him at the battles of Princeton and Trenton. In 1777 he resigned his commission, feeling slighted by Con- gress in its list of promotions. When, however, information was received that Ticonderoga had been taken, he set out at the head of a small force, met and defeated Baum's forces at Bennington, and likewise defeated the British re-en- forcements of 500 men which Burgoyne had sent to Baum's aid. For this victory he was promoted Brigadier-General and later joined General Gates at Bemis Heights; but the term of his militia hav- ing expired, he returned to New Hamp- shire and recruited a new force. With these he cut off Burgoyne's retreat from Saratoga, and in 1778 was placed in command of the Northern Department. Later he served in Rhode Island, New