NORMAN CUSTOM REVIVED.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14985, 4 June 1914, Page 4

NORMAN CUSTOM REVIVED.

"CRYING FOR JtSTICE." (FROM OCT. OTTV rOBTTKM .NTH-ST.. LONDON, April 20. Tho Ciameiir do Uaro. an ancient Norman custom of "Crying for Justice' 1 still survives in tho Channel Islam.* It was rnisod on Saturday by Mr Dan : e'i Sehire Jurat, Jtisticior-eleot of Alderney, whose election 'tlio Itoyal Court at, Guernsey annulled because he had been sentenced to a rerni of i-nprisonmei" t some years ago. Mr Jurat raised tho "cry for justice" against a fresh election by kneeling bareheaded at the entrance of the Courthouse and exclaiming "Haro! Haro. Haro! a I'aide, mon Prince, on mo fait tort." Accoiding to custom, tho appellant must on his knees aad before witnesses raiso the cry which acts as an injunction until tho alleged tort or trespas. has been adjudicated upon by th. Court.. If tho trespasser continues, he is liable to arrest and punishment. Though the Claraeur is still legal in £he Channel Island-, recourse to it. is very rare, and there has been no instanc. of it in Alderney for two centuries. , The derivation popularly ascribed to the plea is curious, "ilaro" is .aid :to be an abbreviation of "Ha! Rollo!" a direct appeal to Rollo tho first Date of Normandy and is thus traced back to the days when there were no Courts and justice was personally meted o-it by princes. It ie. however, more probable that "Haro" is simply an exclama.:'on t-> «t<rar. attention. A similar eastorr., applicable only in criminnJ Cases, war the Savor. "Ci*m*nr Violentra>," which was in existence at tho time of tho Norman invasion.