wife took a dower, or life estate in one-third of the husband's lands
after his death, whether there were children or not. This estate of
dower was forfeited should the husband be found guilty of treason, but
his interest in her lands was not disturbed by the treason of the wife.
His life interest in her real estate attached to trust estates, but she
could claim no interest in trust estates of her husband. If the wife
owned leases of land they could be sold or assigned by the husband
during marriage. If he survived his wife they belonged to him, if she
survived him, they belonged to her, provided he had not disposed of them
while living.

[Sidenote: Descent of property.]

Personal property descended to males and females in equal shares, but
the oldest son was entitled to the whole of his father's real property.

[Sidenote: Unity of person in criminal law.]

The unity of husband and wife was not so strongly affirmed by the common
law when it dealt with their relation to criminal matters. When a wife
committed an offense against the state she possessed a separate and
distinct life and personalty, for the purposes of punishment. It is true
that she was still inferior and this distinction was recognized and
emphasized by the difference in the penalties imposed for the commission
of the same crimes, these penalties being in inverse ratio to the
importance of the criminal.

[Sidenote: Theft, burglary, etc.]

[Sidenote: Presumption of innocence.]