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FELO-DE-SE

Volume 9 · 110 words · 1860 Edition

one who commits felony by suicide, or who, being of sane mind and the age of discretion, deliberately takes away his own life. The chattels, real and personal, of a felo-de-se are forfeited to the crown, but not his lands of inheritance; nor is his wife barred of her dower. The forfeited chattels, however, are usually restored upon the payment of certain fees. Formerly, a felo-de-se was buried in the highway, with a stake thrust through his body; but this barbarous usage was abolished by act 4th Geo. IV., cap. 52, which provides that he be privately interred in a burial-ground, between the hours of nine and twelve at night.