De lege Pompeia de parricidiis
(Concerning the Pompeian Law on Parricides.)
1Marcianus, Institutes, Book XIV. It is provided by the Pompeian Law relating to Parricides that if anyone kills his father, his mother, his grandfather, his grandmother, his brother, his sister, his paternal uncle, his paternal aunt, his maternal uncle, his maternal aunt, his cousin of either sex, his wife, her husband, his son-in-law, his father-in-law, his stepfather, his stepson, his stepdaughter, his patron, or his patroness, or causes this to be done with malicious intent, he shall be liable to the penalty prescribed by the Cornelian Law relating to Assassins. A mother, who kills her son or her daughter, is also liable to the penalty of this law, as well as a grandfather who kills his grandson. Again, anyone who purchases poison for the purpose of administering it to his father is liable, even if he does not give it to him.
3Marcianus, Institutes, Book XIV. It must be remembered that cousins are included in the Pompeian Law, but those are not equally implicated who are in the same, or a nearer degree. Also, mothers-in-law and women who have been betrothed are omitted; they are, however, included in accordance with the meaning of the law.
4The Same, On Public Prosecutions, Book I. Just as the fathers and mothers of married persons are embraced in the designation fathers and mothers-in-law, so the husbands of the children are embraced in the term sons-in-law.
5The Same, Institutes, Book XIV. It is said that the Divine Hadrian, in a case where a certain man had, while hunting, killed his son who had committed adultery with his stepmother, caused him to be deported to an island, on the ground that he killed him rather as a thief than by asserting his right as a father; for paternal authority should rather be influenced by affection than by cruelty.
6Ulpianus, On the Duties of Proconsul, Book VIII. The question may be asked whether those who kill their parents, or know of the crime, should be punished for parricide. Msecianus says that not only parricides, but also their accomplices, should undergo this penalty. Hence the accomplices, even if they are strangers, are punished in the same way.
7The Same, On the Edict, Book XXIX. When money has been furnished for the commission of a crime, with the knowledge of a creditor, where, for instance, it has been given to purchase poison, or paid to robbers or assassins for the purpose of killing his father, he who obtained the money will be liable to the penalty for parricide, as well as those who lent it, or took measures to have it used in this way.
8The Same, Disputations, Book VIII. Where anyone accused of parricide dies before being convicted, even if he kills himself, he should have the Treasury as his successor, or if not, anyone whom he appointed by his will. If he should die intestate, he will have as heirs those who are designated by law.
9Modestinus, Pandects, Book XII. The penalty of parricide, as prescribed by our ancestors, is that the culprit shall be beaten with rods stained with his blood, and then shall be sewed up in a sack with a dog, a cock, a viper, and an ape, and the bag cast into the depth of the sea, that is to say, if the sea is near at hand; otherwise, it shall be thrown to wild beasts, according to the Constitution of the Divine Hadrian. 1Those who kill other persons than their father and mother, their grandfather and grandmother, whom we have stated above, are punished according to the custom of our ancestors, either suffer a capital penalty, or are sacrificed to the gods. 2When anyone, while insane, kills his parents, he shall go unpunished, as the Divine Brothers stated in a Rescript with reference to a man who, being insane, killed his mother; for it is sufficient for him to be punished by his insanity alone, but he must be guarded with great care, or else be kept in chains.
10Paulus, On the Penalties of All Laws. The accusation of those who are liable to the penalty of parricide is always permitted.