On 10th June 1802, The Exeter Flying Post reported:
"On the fifth inst. an inquisition was taken at Elford (Ebford) Barton, near this city, by Henry Pugh, gent. coroner, on the body of John Tucker, son of a Tenant to T. H. Lee, Esq. a lad between nine or ten years of age, the verdict was death occasioned by the bite of an Ass, the beast is forfeited as a deodand. This paragraph is inserted to caution the public; at this time of year asses of this description are extremely vicious, and it is hoped will be noticed by those persons in particular, who permit them to rove at large on the highways, to the great annoyance and danger of the passengers."
Shed a tear for poor little John Tucker!
But how words change! To take an inquisition sounds much more serious than to hold an inquest.
Deodands (Latin, deo dandum = to be given to God) have gone out of fashion. They were removed from the legal code in 1846,
These days asses, if there were any, would roam at large rather than rove, although the latter word seems to me to be more fun.
It is hard to imagine those Devon highways where, in June at least, extremely vicious asses roved to the great annoyance and danger of passengers..
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