MEN OF STRAW
was reduced to 60 years, and again by that of 2 it 3 Wm. IV. c. 71. to 20 yeam. In the Ameiicnn states, by statute, the time of legal iI|eLE|I3l'_V is generally fi_\c-ll at a period cowespuniling to that prescribed for actions for the remvery of real property usually about 20 years. See 2 ‘Bl. Comm. 31; Miller v. Gar- lock. 8 Barb. (N. Y.) 153.
MEN OF STRAW. Men who used in former days to ply about courts of law, so called from their manner of making known their U(:ClIlJ.lllDLl, (i. e., by it straw in one of t.1ieir shoes.) recognized by the nnme of "str.iw-shoes." An advocate or lawyer who wanted 51 convenient witness knew by these signs where to meet with one, and the colloquy bet" cen the piirtles was brief. "Don't you reineniliefl" said the advocate; to which the ieady answer 'w.is, "To he sure I do." "Then come into court and swear it." And Sll’i.l\\ -shoes went into court and swore. Alli- ens aliounded in straw-shoes. Quart. Rev. ml 83, p 344.
MENACE. A threat; the declaration or show of a disposition or deteiininstion to in- fiict an evil or injury upon another. Cum- ming v. State, 99 Ga. 662, 27 S. E. 177; Morrili v. Nightingale, 93 Cal. 4.32, 28 Pac. 1068, 27 Am. SL Rep. 207.
MENETUM. [11 old Scotch law. A stock- horn; a horn made of wood, "with circles and girds of the saiiie." Skene.
MENIAL. A servant of the lowest order: more strictly. a domestic servant living under his master's root. Boniface 1. Scott, 3 Serg. 8: R. (Pa.) 35-}.
MENS. Lat. Mind; intention; meaning; understanding; Will. —Mens Iegie. The mind of the law; is, the purpose. spirit, or intention of a law or the law gener:1lly.—-ll/lens legisliitoris. The intention of t.he_ law-maker.—Mens res. A guilty mind; a guilty or wrongful purpose; ii criminal intent.
Men: testatox-is in testtunentin spectaiida rt. Jenk. Cent. 27?. The intention of the stator is to be regarded in wills.
MENSA. Lat. Patrlniony or goods and necessary things for livelihood. Jacob. A table; the table of a money-changer. Dig. 2, 14, 47.
—Mcnsa at thorn. See Divoncn.
From bed and board.
MENSALIA. Parsonage: or spiritual liv- lugs united to the tables of religious houses, and called "mensnl benefices" amongst the canonists. Cowell.
MENSIS. Lat. In the civil and old English law. A month. Memis vetitus, the pro- hibited month; fencemonth, (q. 4:.)
MENSOR. of land; 3. surveyor. 8; CuiL 12, 28.
In the civil law. A inensurer Dig. 11, 6; Id. 50. 6,
772
MERCANTILE
MENSULARIUS. in the civil law. money-changer or dealer in money. Dig. 14, 47, 1.
MENSURA. measure.
In old English law.
—Mensurn domini 1-egis. "The me-"rut: our lord the king," being the weights and ures estshlisbed nmlt-1' King iiicliiiril 1, parliament nt W'e-slmiiistcr. 1.197. 1 BI. 27 . Mozley & Whitley.
MENTAL. Relating to or exist1ng in th in.Lnd: intellectual, emotional, or pfihic, distinguished from bodily or physical.
—Menta1 alienation. A pbruse somctim used to describe lusiin 3’. (17. v.l—Meiitiil inigiiish. bcn connected \\ith a ]llI-iI"fll i jury, this term includes both the re tn] ation of pa and also the accmuna f('(‘l gs of dislres [ii_ t. nnd nnxifi. Railway Co. v. Corlcy (Tr.-x.) 26 S. . l'tnilv\'av Co. v. Miller, ) Tex. Civ. An (31 S. "V. 978, In ves v. lttiilway C 3 290. 30 I\'. W. In other connections.‘ as a ground for damages or run element of ages. it includes the mental suffering rulli from the excitation of the more poignant painful emotions. such us grief. severe dlj no tmcnt_ ind gnaitimi, wounded pride sbnine. pn c biimiliution. despair, etc—Meiital cg- pizcity or competence. Sucb 3. measure of intelligence understanding. i;ueniof_\‘, and judgment (relative to the particular tmnsnction) as Will enuhle the person to understand the nature and effects of his act. Eaton v. Eaton. 37 N.
. 113, 18 Am. Rep. I6; Darren v Wliite_ 42 N. J. Eq. _ , " tl. 63.’: Co V. Nnilor, 118 U. S. 127 6 Sup. Ct. 1001. L. Ed. 112.—'Menta1 iiefect._ As applied to the qualification of :1 juror. tbis term mil: he understood to embrace either such groii I norance or imbecility as practically Gemini- fies any person from performing the duties of i1 jurnr. Caldwell v. State. 41 Tex. 94.- Mental reservation. A slent exception to the general words of a promise or agreement not expressed. on account of a general understanding on the subject. But the word biis b-in npplicxl to an exception exlstmg in the mind of the one party only, and hns been ilegrzided to ify a dishonest excuse for evading or iii- fringing I! promise. llharton.
MENTIRI. Lat. To lie; to assert I
falsehood. Calvin ; 3 Bulst. 260.
MENTITION. The act of lying; a fulfi- hood.
MENU, LAWS 01‘. A collection or iii- stitute of the earliest laws of ancient India. The work is of very remote antiquity.
M1-1'R., or M}IR.E. A fenny place. Oowell. MERA NOCTIS. Midnight Oowell.
MERANNUM. wood for building.
in old records. Timbers; MERCABLI-1. Merchnntahle; to be sold or bought IEERCANTANT. A foreign trader.
MERCANTILE. Pertaining to merchant: or their business; havin.-;' to do with trade
