DCHP-3

miners' meeting law

Hist.
DCHP-1 (pre-1967)

Entry from the DCHP-1 (pre-1967)

This entry may contain outdated or offensive information, terms, and examples.

the law in effect in early goldmining communities, established and enforced by miners' meetings, also miner's law.

Quotations

1899
"Miners' meeting law" is unscientific and rarely commendable, but here it served its purpose well because its methods made it so seldom required.
1900
In the old times . . . Miners' Law prevailed; that is to say, in cases of stealing or murder . . . a meeting of miners was called, before whom the plaintiff and defendant and the witnesses were examined by the old-timers.