Lawyers used sheepskin as anti-fraud device for hundreds of years

Post by [deleted] » Thu, Mar 25, 2021, 12:17 PM UTC

lifeisstillgood wrote: post #38

cossray wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is the phrase,"get short end of the stick" originate from this?

This is a (modern, mistaken) conjoining of two similar phrases - drawing the short stick (where you hold five sticks / matches, in your hand one of which is cut short but no one can tell cos they are held in someone's hand) - Grabbing the shitty end of the stick. Which seems fairly obvious if a stick was used for any clearing out style work. (there seems to be no obvious "short end" of a stick)

Post by batpangolin » Thu, Mar 25, 2021, 12:54 PM UTC

krisoft wrote: post #49

hristov wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My understanding is that these were used as what we currently refer to as treasuries. I.e., debt that the government owes to an investor. So, if you want to lend the government some money, you get half a piece of wood with some notches indicating how much you lent. Then when it is time to collect you go to the government show them your piece of wood and if it matches you get your money plus whatever interest. So if t…

So it is in the best interest of the government to get a rasp and file some of of their side of the block. Nothing will match and thus they don’t have to pay.

Post by [deleted] » Thu, Mar 25, 2021, 1:06 PM UTC

a_t48 wrote: post #41

SamBam wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That doesn't answer the question, because the point of the two halves is that they are independently recording the contract. If we use a split stick to record how much money you owe me, and I simply add more marks to mine, to pretend you owe me more, it's obvious that I'm cheating. But if I simply split a brand-new stick and add marks on it, then our sticks won't match up at all. How will a court know which is the or…

Let's say we cut notches perpedicular to where the split will be, and then split through the notches. If you cut more notches in your side of the wood, it will be obvious that you've done so - the two sides will fit together perfectly in shape and in grain, but one side will have extra notches. It's not like I could have filled in the notches on my piece.

Post by rtkwe » Thu, Mar 25, 2021, 1:26 PM UTC

lupire wrote: post #67

prox wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Another old process (ancient?) a teacher of mine once mentioned is that of always having three witnesses to any official transaction (usually one being a Notary to record) and two other people present. Having three people present is a way to protect against he said/she said.

You only need 1 witness for that. The first two are the parties. 3 is an enhancement for redundancy. Habit an odd number is a false confidence. Think about it: what happens if you have 4 witnesses? They could tie? How is that worse, as it adds more information that maybe 2 of the first 3 are lying or wrong?

Post by dylan604 » Thu, Mar 25, 2021, 1:47 PM UTC

weinzierl wrote: post #52

dylan604 wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"So Banksy created a not-for-profit company, Pest Control" I now want Banksy to name my future endeavors.

> I now want Banksy to name my future endeavors. "If you’re thinking of writing in to ask Banksy to paint your sitting room or design your company logo - please don’t." I guess you are out of luck here, but if you don't mind aiding and abetting the commission of a trespass - maybe you can trade in. "If you’re thinking of writing in because you have privileged access to a secure facility that needs vandalising - pleas…