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The Green Bag.

case was first heard by a court of three years old and not six as Samuel alleged; judges at Marseilles, one of them chosen by that no marriage contract was entered into, the plaintiff, one by the defendant and the but that the prospective marriage of the cousins had been discussed in the family third by the two thus named. It was com mon among the Jews to try cases before circle and favored by the relatives. Her such tribunals, and their decisions were mother had often told her that when they binding, although sometimes, as in this case, went to Marseilles this marriage would be the proceedings were removed to another considered, but time passed and neither court, composed of specially distinguished Moses nor Samuel seems to have given the doctors of the law. The final judgment was matter any further consideration. She al leged that Samuel had so far abandoned rendered by a court at Montpellier. The plaintiff, Samuel Ibn Tibbon, alleged the thought that he married another woman; that his first marriage with Biongude had Samuel admitted this marriage, but stated taken place in 1246, a short time after the that he had entered into it under duress, death of her father at Naples, when she was, being forced to do so by his father. He strenuously denied that he had given according to his story, six years of age. He alleged that his father Moses was at up his rights and title as Biongude's hus that time in Naples and had written the band, and said that about six years be marriage contract, that he and his father fore he brought the suit he had set forth had then returned to Marseilles, whence his claims in a letter to Biongude's brotherthey had sent some gifts to Biongude, which in-law. He also claimed that, about three had been received by her guardians, and years after this, Biongude and her mother acknowledged as her marriage dowry. These had left Naples to reside permanently at presents consisted of jewels and fine stuffs Marseilles and had lived for some months of which clothing was made for her, which in the house of his father. During this time she wore for many years and remnants of he and Biongude were on a familiar footing, which were still to be seen. These gifts that would have been more than surprising had been sent in the presence of numerous if they had not been known to be husband friends and members of the family, and were and wife. To be entirely sure of his con jugal status he claimed to have married her accompanied by a deed of gift. Samuel furthermore alleged that a second the third time at Marseilles. He produced marriage had been contracted between them a witness named Mordecai bar Yekutiel, at Naples by means of a proxy, empowered who testified that he had seen Samuel and by letter of attorney. A second marriage Biongude together at her mother's house, contract had been written, but had been conversing about their first betrothal and lost. The records of the case throw no the marriage gifts that he had sent to her, light on this second marriage and we are and that he called her his wife. Then in left in doubt as to its date and the reason the presence of this witness and of one alleged by Samuel for contracting it. Joseph bar Samuel he drew out a " flower Biongude, who was about sixteen years of auripel,"' and, giving it to Biongude, 1 "Auripel " in Provencal, "oripeau " in French, means of age at the time of the suit, alleged that a plaque or disc of gilded copper. The flower offered her uncle, Moses Ibn Tibbon, had indeed by Samuel was a kind of jewel in gilded copper. It was been at Naples at her mother's house, but the custom in Provence and in Italy to offer a jewel of this sort to the bride instead of the more common wed that his visit was made when she was three ding ring.