A BABYLONIAN LAWSUIT

Clutha Leader, Volume XXXVI, Issue 51, 7 December 1909, Page 8

A BABYLONIAN LAWSUIT

Among the Babylonian tablets in the British Museum are two which throw light on the legal status ot women in ancient Babylonia, and show that the Married Women's Property Act was in force in that country as early as 8.C., these documents refer were taken by a woman against her brother-in-law to regain possession of certain property left bv her husband. . The facts of the case were (says the 'Globe') that a man from Babylon had married a woman from Borssppa, and with the money of her dowry he had bought an estate. After a few years they adopted a son, and shortly after this' the husband mortgaged the estate He died leaving it mortgaged and then the husband's brother wanted to claim it. The woman took her case to the Court at Borsippa, but it was beyond their jurisdiction, so it was referred to the High Court of Babylon. The judges examined the document relating to the case, and decided that as the property -was the husband's the widow could have it on paying off the mortgage and that the husband's brother had no claim. Eventually, however, , the state would be the property of the son. . .

It is interesting to note that it is distinctly staed that the lady pleaded her own'case, without the_ assistance ot a scribe, or lawyver, and judgment was given in her favor.