FRENCH LAW MESHES.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 224, 21 September 1929, Page 12 (Supplement)

FRENCH LAW MESHES.

A DROLL EMBARRASSMENT. The technicalities of the law, giving rise to strange situations iu all lands, proverbially yield the French a rich crop of absurdities. A recent instance, complicated by the literal observance of instructions issued to servants, resulted in a three days' impasse with both amusing and annoying aspects. The will of the late Charles le Thierry d'ETmequin of 15, Avenue de Messine, Paris, specified that burial was to take place at Lille in the presence of the executor. Before the executor departed for the funeral he left just as strict instructions with two maid-servants that they were to allow no one to enter the house of their late master.' To make assurance doubly sure, he sent word to a magistrate to have the police seal up the house. The executor had no sooner departed than the police came to seal up the dwelling. The maids would not allow them to enter, and declined to leave the house. The police, having no authority to force an entrance, contented themselves by sealing up doors and windows.

The next day the executor returned to the house and was confronted by the seals. The- maids made signs to him that they wanted to come out. He applied to the police and to the magistrate who had directed the police to seal up the house, but neither had the requisite authority to undo their work. At the Prefecture of Police he was informed that only the Procurator of the Republic had the desired authority. At last, on the third day, this official was reached at his holiday retreat and telephoned an order which resulted in liberating the faithful maids.