the buildings fired must have been inhabited.

Drunkenness is not a legal excuse for crime, but delirium tremens is
considered by the law as a species of insanity.

In a case of assault it is only necessary to prove an "offer or attempt
at assault."

Battery presumes physical violence.

Mayhem, although popularly supposed to refer to injury to the face, lip,
tongue, eye, or ear, applies to any injury done a limb.

A felony is a crime punishable by imprisonment in a State prison; an
"infamous" crime is one punishable with death or State prison.

A police officer is not authorized to make an arrest without a warrant
unless he has personal knowledge of the offense for which the arrest is
made.

An accident is not a crime, unless criminal carelessness can be proven.
A man shooting at a burglar and killing a member of his family is not a
murderer.

Burglary in the first degree can be committed only in the night time.
Twilight, if dark enough to prevent distinguishing a man's face, is the
same as "night" in law.

Murder to be in the first degree must be willful, premeditated and
malicious, or committed while the murderer is engaged in a felonious
act. The killing of a man in a duel is murder, and it is a misdemeanor
to accept or give a challenge.

False swearing is perjury in law only when willfully done, and when the
oath has been legally administered. Such qualifying expressions as "to
the best of my belief," "as I am informed," may save an averment from
being perjured. The law is that the false statement sworn to must be
absolute. Subornation of perjury is a felony.

TO TELL PURE WATER.

The color, odor, taste and purity of water can be ascertained as
follows: Fill a large bottle made of colorless glass with water; look
through the water at some black object. Pour out some of the water and
leave the bottle half full; cork the bottle and place it for a few hours
in a warm place; shake up the water, remove the cork, and critically
smell the air contained in the bottle. If it has any smell, particularly
if the odor is repulsive, the water should not be used for domestic
purposes. By heating the water an odor is evolved that would not
otherwise appear. Water fresh from the well is usually tasteless, even
if it contains a large amount of putrescible organic matter. All water
for domestic purposes should be perfectly tasteless, and remain so even
after it has been warmed, since warming often develops a taste