Copyrighted Material

H O LY D O G S H E C U B Arsquo S B A R K

IknewapersoninChristabovefourteenyearsago(whetherinthebodyIcannottellorwhetherout

ofthebodyIcannottellGodknoweth)suchanonecaughtuptothethirdheaven

mdashStPaul2Corinthians122

A M O S T U N N AT U R A L B A R G A I N

AsregardsspectersorghostsIhavehithertoheardattributedtothemnointelligiblepropertytheyseem

likephantomswhichnoonecanunderstand

mdashSpinozatoHugoBoxel1674

IN 1989 HELENACKLEY SOLD HER FIVE-THOUSAND-SQUARE-FOOTeighteen-roomVictorianhouseontheHudsonRiverinNyackNewYorktoayoungcoupleJeffreyandPatriceStambovskyAftermakingadownpaymentof$32500forthehousetheylearnedthatitwashauntedAlthoughJeffreydidnotbelieveinghostsanddidnotmindknowingthatthehousewasthusoc-cupiedhiswiferefusedtolivethereAckleyhadenjoyedagoodrelationshipwiththeghostsforovertwentyyearsandhadbe-comeaccustomedtostepsonthestairsdoorsslammingbedsshakingandchandeliersmovingbackandforthSheassuredthecouplethattheyhadnothingtofearThespiritswerefriendly

Copyrighted Material

C H A P T E R O N E

andevengavewhatAckleycalledldquogiftsrdquotoherchildrensilvertongsandagoldbabyringSherefusedtocalloffthesaleStam-bovskyaWallStreetbondtraderturnednottoexorcismbuttothelawHefiledsuitinNewYorktocancelthecontracttellingthepressldquoWewerethevictimsofectoplasmicfraudrdquo

Although the house was widely known to be possessed bynumerousghoststhiswasnotdisclosedbyAckleyAlowercourtdismissedthecaseasthestateappliestheruleofcaveatemptororldquoletthebuyerbewarerdquoStambovskyappealedInStambovsky v Ackley (1991)JudgeIsraelRubinwritingfortheappellatedivisionoftheNewYorkSupremeCourtdeclared ldquo[A]samat-teroflawthehouseishauntedrdquoSinceHelenAckleynotonlyknew of the spectral inhabitantsmdashallegedly dating from theAmericanRevolutionmdashbuthadevencelebratedtheminanar-ticleldquoOurHauntedHouseontheHudsonrdquoforReaderrsquos Digest inMay1977andinacoupleoflocalnewspapersin1982and1989shewasobligedtotellherpotentialbuyersthatthehousewasnotvacantastheyassumedNoteveryoneafterallsharedher enthusiasm for what she described as ldquoelusive spirits graciousthoughtfulmdashonlyoccasionallyfrighteningmdashandthor-oughlyentertainingrdquoAlthoughAckleylostthelawsuitshewasgladthatherghostsweredeclaredldquoofficiallyaliverdquo1

InanunusuallydrollandquiteunprecedenteddecisionRubinarguedthatnohouseinspectioncouldhaverevealedthepres-enceofghostsldquoAverypracticalproblemariseswithrespecttothediscoveryofaparanormalphenomenonrdquohewroteldquolsquoWhoyougonnacallrsquoasatitlesongtothemovielsquoGhostbustersrsquoasksrdquoRubincontinued

ApplyingthestrictruleofcaveatemptortoacontractinvolvingahousepossessedbypoltergeistsconjuresupvisionsofapsychicormediumroutinelyaccompanyingthestructuralengineerandTerminixmanonaninspectionofeveryhomesubjecttoacon-tractofsaleItportendsthattheprudentattorneywillestablishanescrowaccountlestthesubjectofthetransactioncomebacktohaunthimandhisclientmdashorpraythathismalpracticeinsur-

2

Copyrighted Material

H O LY D O G S H E C U B Arsquo S B A R K

ancecoverageextendstosupernaturaldisastersIntheinterestofavoidingsuchuntenableconsequencesthenotionthatahaunt-ingisaconditionwhichcanandshouldbeascertaineduponrea-sonableinspectionofthepremisesisahobgoblinwhichshouldbeexorcisedfromthebodyoflegalprecedentandlaidquietlytorest

ArguingthatenforcingthiscontractwouldoffendtheldquospiritofequityrdquoRubinheld thatldquotheunwittingpurchaserrdquo should re-coverhismoneyandbereleasedfromldquoamostunnaturalbar-gainrdquoGhostsarenotliketermitesafterallandnoreasonableinspection of the premises could have made this infestationknowntoStambovsky2

The decision in this case made ghost hunters ecstatic andrealtorsanxiousbutitwasitsstylethatgaveit legalrenownRubinrsquosapproachandhisrelianceonghostsaslegalmattersug-gestedthatjudicialspeculationowedagreatdealtothedeadaswellastotheunrealBesideshisexplicitusesofcinematicandliteraryallusionstospectersincludingbothHamlet andGhost-bustershealsoraisedtheghostofequitybefore thecourtAsystemofjurisprudencethatofferedanalternativetocommonlawldquoequityrdquooriginatedinEnglandastheldquospiritrdquooffairnessldquoacourt of consciencerdquo3 Rubin suggested that though courts ofchanceryhavebeenreplacedinNewYorkbytheformalitiesoftheregularcourtsheintendedtoresurrectthespiritofequityforhewouldldquonotbestifledbyrigidapplicationofalegalmaximrdquoForhimtheappealbecameamatterofconscienceenablinghimtotranscendtheletterofthelawwhennecessaryOrheputthespiritbackintheletterannouncingattheoutsetthathewasldquomovedbythespiritofequitytoallowthebuyertoseekrescis-sionofthecontractofsaleandrecoveryofhisdownpaymentrdquo4

Theafterlifeofthisjudicialbewitchingnotonlychangedtheapplication of the doctrine of caveat emptor but made legalrights dependent upon supernatural phenomena In this wayRubintooktherealtorrsquostermldquostigmatizedpropertyrdquomdashahousepossessed by ghosts or where a murder or suicide had taken

3

Copyrighted Material

C H A P T E R O N E

placemdashandaskedthatwerecallsuchsupposedlyextinctlegalusagesasspectralevidenceandineradicablestigmaHedeclaredldquoCommonlaw isnotmoribundEx facto jus oritur (lawarisesoutoffacts)rdquoButwhatkindsoffactsaretheseAretheylegalfactsorlegalfictionsLiteralorfigurativeBadlogicbutgoodlawInRubinrsquosviewldquofairnessandcommonsensedictatethatanexceptionrdquomustbemadetotherulesoflawIsthisthebe-ginningperhapsofarationaleforhaunting5

AlthoughAckleyhadnostrictdutytodisclosethestigmaonthepropertynonethelessRubinwentbeyondtheclaimsofcivillawtoconsiderauniqueandequitableremedyHegaverelieftothebuyerandshowedhowlegalrulescouldbesurpassedbytheforceofanarchaismnolesspowerfulforbeingdisavowed

Rubinalsocalledupanotherghosttheantiquatedlegalfic-tionof civildeath the lossof civil andproprietary rightsbymonksnunsandfelonsForthefelontheritualofalienationoccasionedanunnaturalstatusbanishedfromthecommunityshornofpersonalitycondemnedtodegradationThis retribu-tiveandpunitivesanctionsurvivedinAmericaThepersoncon-victedoffelonyisaliveinfactbutdeadinlawInthissensetheghoststhatpossessedStambovskyrsquosnewhomeenforcedanewframingofanoldproblemThehousewashauntedinlawbutnot infactThiswasmoreterrifyingforsomethanifhehaddeclaredghostsrealInsteadRubinpositedarealityindepen-dent of any conception of what is real Some commentatorsthoughtthatldquoitwasasifsomeother-worldlyforceenteredthecourthouseandtookpossessionofthejudgesrdquoorthatRubinwasldquospeakingintonguesrdquo6

SincethemostfamouscasesofcivildeathinthenineteenthcenturywereinNewYorkRubinisonfamiliargroundConsid-eringStambovskyinlightofthisburiedhistorywewillseehowlegalreasoningmanipulatesthefictionsthatsustainidiomsofservility

Statutorylawin1799enforcedtheharshpracticesofstrictcivildeathalbeitinanovelwayTheeffectsofthisseveritywillbeexaminedfullyinthenextchapterbuthereletusnotewhat

4

Copyrighted Material

H O LY D O G S H E C U B Arsquo S B A R K

happenedwhenthestatutechangedthecommon-lawwordingldquoshallbedeemeddeadtoallintentsandpurposesinthelawrdquotoldquothereafterbedeemedcivillydeadrdquoDispossessedofalltheben-efitsoflawtheconvictwasdoomedin his person toperpetualincapacitationChancellorJamesKentsittingintheNewYorkCourtofChanceryuntil1823 lamented thatcivildeathen-suredldquoperpetualimprisonmentrdquoInPlatner v Sherwood(1822)heagreedwiththeargumentsofPlatnerrsquoslawyersldquoImprison-mentforlifewasapunishmentunknowntothecommonlawrdquoLatercasesintheCourtofAppealsofNewYorksuchasAvery v Everett (1888)demonstratedtheeeriestayingpowerofcivildeathevenifdeprivationswereamelioratedtoallowthecon-victtoretainhisrighttoproperty7

The factofpropertypossessedor lost becamecrucialnotonlytolegalstatusbutalsotopersonalidentityandthesacrificeoftheselftopunishmentAcreationoflawcivildeathistheghost that continues to torment persons convicted of crimeAssumingdifferentformsfromstatetostate itsembodimentdependsonstatuteand judicialargumentandthisdisenfran-chisementstillrendersprecarioustheabsolutesecurityofper-sonalproperty8

RubintakesthespecteroflegaldispossessionandgivesitanewroleFleshedoutinlawtheerranthauntsofasupposedlyoldandobsoleteeraresurfaceinahomeinNyackNewYorkRubinrsquos invocation of equity brings him to commit to law asurprisingandunexpecteddecisionNotonlydoeshemobilizethe impulses of equity buthe gives law thepower tomakeghostscountThishouseisnotvacantbutoccupiedWhatRubincalleditsldquoghoulishreputationrdquocannotbeexorcisedSinceAck-leyhadmademuchofthepossessionofherhousebyghoststhecourtdemandedthatsheshouldhaveadmittedthehauntingtoherunsuspectingbuyersSoshewasliablefornotdisclosingthefullfactsas she saw them AtaintorldquoimpairmentrdquodeliberatelypublicizedmadethehouseamagnetforghosthuntersandsuchaldquophantasmalreputationrdquowouldsignificantlydecreasethevalueofthehouseInRubinrsquoswords

5

Copyrighted Material

C H A P T E R O N E

Whereasherethesellernotonlytakesunfairadvantageofthebuyerrsquosignorancebuthascreatedandperpetuatedaconditionaboutwhichheisunlikelytoeveninquireenforcementofthecontract(inwholeorinpart)isoffensivetothecourtrsquossenseofequityApplicationoftheremedyofrescissionwithintheboundsof thenarrowexception to thedoctrineof caveat emptor setforthhereinisentirelyappropriatetorelievetheunwittingpur-chaserfromtheconsequencesofamostunnaturalbargain9

InThinking with DemonsStuartClarkaskedthathistoriansnot only take the risk involved in treating supernatural phe-nomenaasrealbutalsomoreimportantlyconsiderwhatcountsasrealTotakeupClarkrsquosargumentwemightsaythatRubintriedldquotomakeintelligibilityandnotrealityrdquohisaimIfahousehasbeenthesceneofamurderorsuicideitisaccordingtoreal-torsldquostigmatized propertyrdquo or ldquopsychologically impactedrdquoTobuyersa supernatural stigmamaymattermore thanphysicalcharacteristicsWecangofurtherandaddthatRubinrsquosargumentwasareasonableifnotwhollyliteralconstructionoffactsOntheterrainoftheundeadreasongambleswithirrationality10

ThereisareallegalproblemhereWhatdoesitmeanifyouengagelawinthestoryofghostsDoestheinterpretationqual-ifyasalegalfictionornotAtissuehereandintheensuingchaptersisnotwhetherghostsarerealornotbutwhetherornotinthelegalworldanewsituationisbeingdescribedasun-controversialAhouselooksvacantbutthelawdecreesitfullof spirits Some buyers might find this supernaturally addedvaluequiteenticingsuddenplenitudeinthefaceofapparentvacancy

ThelawhasahistoryofsuchimaginingmaderealAresilientacceptanceofunreality isanecessarypartof legalhistoryAttimestherewasnospecialruleofevidenceforpsychicphenom-enajustastherewasnoneedofproofforseeminglyirrationalracialbeliefsWecanturn to thespectralevidenceofdreamsandvisionsfamouslyadmittedbythepresidingCottonMatherduringtheSalemwitchtrialsaswellastootherinstanceswhen

6

Copyrighted Material

C H A P T E R O N E

andevengavewhatAckleycalledldquogiftsrdquotoherchildrensilvertongsandagoldbabyringSherefusedtocalloffthesaleStam-bovskyaWallStreetbondtraderturnednottoexorcismbuttothelawHefiledsuitinNewYorktocancelthecontracttellingthepressldquoWewerethevictimsofectoplasmicfraudrdquo

Although the house was widely known to be possessed bynumerousghoststhiswasnotdisclosedbyAckleyAlowercourtdismissedthecaseasthestateappliestheruleofcaveatemptororldquoletthebuyerbewarerdquoStambovskyappealedInStambovsky v Ackley (1991)JudgeIsraelRubinwritingfortheappellatedivisionoftheNewYorkSupremeCourtdeclared ldquo[A]samat-teroflawthehouseishauntedrdquoSinceHelenAckleynotonlyknew of the spectral inhabitantsmdashallegedly dating from theAmericanRevolutionmdashbuthadevencelebratedtheminanar-ticleldquoOurHauntedHouseontheHudsonrdquoforReaderrsquos Digest inMay1977andinacoupleoflocalnewspapersin1982and1989shewasobligedtotellherpotentialbuyersthatthehousewasnotvacantastheyassumedNoteveryoneafterallsharedher enthusiasm for what she described as ldquoelusive spirits graciousthoughtfulmdashonlyoccasionallyfrighteningmdashandthor-oughlyentertainingrdquoAlthoughAckleylostthelawsuitshewasgladthatherghostsweredeclaredldquoofficiallyaliverdquo1

InanunusuallydrollandquiteunprecedenteddecisionRubinarguedthatnohouseinspectioncouldhaverevealedthepres-enceofghostsldquoAverypracticalproblemariseswithrespecttothediscoveryofaparanormalphenomenonrdquohewroteldquolsquoWhoyougonnacallrsquoasatitlesongtothemovielsquoGhostbustersrsquoasksrdquoRubincontinued

ApplyingthestrictruleofcaveatemptortoacontractinvolvingahousepossessedbypoltergeistsconjuresupvisionsofapsychicormediumroutinelyaccompanyingthestructuralengineerandTerminixmanonaninspectionofeveryhomesubjecttoacon-tractofsaleItportendsthattheprudentattorneywillestablishanescrowaccountlestthesubjectofthetransactioncomebacktohaunthimandhisclientmdashorpraythathismalpracticeinsur-

2

Copyrighted Material

H O LY D O G S H E C U B Arsquo S B A R K

ancecoverageextendstosupernaturaldisastersIntheinterestofavoidingsuchuntenableconsequencesthenotionthatahaunt-ingisaconditionwhichcanandshouldbeascertaineduponrea-sonableinspectionofthepremisesisahobgoblinwhichshouldbeexorcisedfromthebodyoflegalprecedentandlaidquietlytorest

ArguingthatenforcingthiscontractwouldoffendtheldquospiritofequityrdquoRubinheld thatldquotheunwittingpurchaserrdquo should re-coverhismoneyandbereleasedfromldquoamostunnaturalbar-gainrdquoGhostsarenotliketermitesafterallandnoreasonableinspection of the premises could have made this infestationknowntoStambovsky2

The decision in this case made ghost hunters ecstatic andrealtorsanxiousbutitwasitsstylethatgaveit legalrenownRubinrsquosapproachandhisrelianceonghostsaslegalmattersug-gestedthatjudicialspeculationowedagreatdealtothedeadaswellastotheunrealBesideshisexplicitusesofcinematicandliteraryallusionstospectersincludingbothHamlet andGhost-bustershealsoraisedtheghostofequitybefore thecourtAsystemofjurisprudencethatofferedanalternativetocommonlawldquoequityrdquooriginatedinEnglandastheldquospiritrdquooffairnessldquoacourt of consciencerdquo3 Rubin suggested that though courts ofchanceryhavebeenreplacedinNewYorkbytheformalitiesoftheregularcourtsheintendedtoresurrectthespiritofequityforhewouldldquonotbestifledbyrigidapplicationofalegalmaximrdquoForhimtheappealbecameamatterofconscienceenablinghimtotranscendtheletterofthelawwhennecessaryOrheputthespiritbackintheletterannouncingattheoutsetthathewasldquomovedbythespiritofequitytoallowthebuyertoseekrescis-sionofthecontractofsaleandrecoveryofhisdownpaymentrdquo4

Theafterlifeofthisjudicialbewitchingnotonlychangedtheapplication of the doctrine of caveat emptor but made legalrights dependent upon supernatural phenomena In this wayRubintooktherealtorrsquostermldquostigmatizedpropertyrdquomdashahousepossessed by ghosts or where a murder or suicide had taken

3

Copyrighted Material

C H A P T E R O N E

placemdashandaskedthatwerecallsuchsupposedlyextinctlegalusagesasspectralevidenceandineradicablestigmaHedeclaredldquoCommonlaw isnotmoribundEx facto jus oritur (lawarisesoutoffacts)rdquoButwhatkindsoffactsaretheseAretheylegalfactsorlegalfictionsLiteralorfigurativeBadlogicbutgoodlawInRubinrsquosviewldquofairnessandcommonsensedictatethatanexceptionrdquomustbemadetotherulesoflawIsthisthebe-ginningperhapsofarationaleforhaunting5

AlthoughAckleyhadnostrictdutytodisclosethestigmaonthepropertynonethelessRubinwentbeyondtheclaimsofcivillawtoconsiderauniqueandequitableremedyHegaverelieftothebuyerandshowedhowlegalrulescouldbesurpassedbytheforceofanarchaismnolesspowerfulforbeingdisavowed

Rubinalsocalledupanotherghosttheantiquatedlegalfic-tionof civildeath the lossof civil andproprietary rightsbymonksnunsandfelonsForthefelontheritualofalienationoccasionedanunnaturalstatusbanishedfromthecommunityshornofpersonalitycondemnedtodegradationThis retribu-tiveandpunitivesanctionsurvivedinAmericaThepersoncon-victedoffelonyisaliveinfactbutdeadinlawInthissensetheghoststhatpossessedStambovskyrsquosnewhomeenforcedanewframingofanoldproblemThehousewashauntedinlawbutnot infactThiswasmoreterrifyingforsomethanifhehaddeclaredghostsrealInsteadRubinpositedarealityindepen-dent of any conception of what is real Some commentatorsthoughtthatldquoitwasasifsomeother-worldlyforceenteredthecourthouseandtookpossessionofthejudgesrdquoorthatRubinwasldquospeakingintonguesrdquo6

SincethemostfamouscasesofcivildeathinthenineteenthcenturywereinNewYorkRubinisonfamiliargroundConsid-eringStambovskyinlightofthisburiedhistorywewillseehowlegalreasoningmanipulatesthefictionsthatsustainidiomsofservility

Statutorylawin1799enforcedtheharshpracticesofstrictcivildeathalbeitinanovelwayTheeffectsofthisseveritywillbeexaminedfullyinthenextchapterbuthereletusnotewhat

4

Copyrighted Material

H O LY D O G S H E C U B Arsquo S B A R K

happenedwhenthestatutechangedthecommon-lawwordingldquoshallbedeemeddeadtoallintentsandpurposesinthelawrdquotoldquothereafterbedeemedcivillydeadrdquoDispossessedofalltheben-efitsoflawtheconvictwasdoomedin his person toperpetualincapacitationChancellorJamesKentsittingintheNewYorkCourtofChanceryuntil1823 lamented thatcivildeathen-suredldquoperpetualimprisonmentrdquoInPlatner v Sherwood(1822)heagreedwiththeargumentsofPlatnerrsquoslawyersldquoImprison-mentforlifewasapunishmentunknowntothecommonlawrdquoLatercasesintheCourtofAppealsofNewYorksuchasAvery v Everett (1888)demonstratedtheeeriestayingpowerofcivildeathevenifdeprivationswereamelioratedtoallowthecon-victtoretainhisrighttoproperty7

The factofpropertypossessedor lost becamecrucialnotonlytolegalstatusbutalsotopersonalidentityandthesacrificeoftheselftopunishmentAcreationoflawcivildeathistheghost that continues to torment persons convicted of crimeAssumingdifferentformsfromstatetostate itsembodimentdependsonstatuteand judicialargumentandthisdisenfran-chisementstillrendersprecarioustheabsolutesecurityofper-sonalproperty8

RubintakesthespecteroflegaldispossessionandgivesitanewroleFleshedoutinlawtheerranthauntsofasupposedlyoldandobsoleteeraresurfaceinahomeinNyackNewYorkRubinrsquos invocation of equity brings him to commit to law asurprisingandunexpecteddecisionNotonlydoeshemobilizethe impulses of equity buthe gives law thepower tomakeghostscountThishouseisnotvacantbutoccupiedWhatRubincalleditsldquoghoulishreputationrdquocannotbeexorcisedSinceAck-leyhadmademuchofthepossessionofherhousebyghoststhecourtdemandedthatsheshouldhaveadmittedthehauntingtoherunsuspectingbuyersSoshewasliablefornotdisclosingthefullfactsas she saw them AtaintorldquoimpairmentrdquodeliberatelypublicizedmadethehouseamagnetforghosthuntersandsuchaldquophantasmalreputationrdquowouldsignificantlydecreasethevalueofthehouseInRubinrsquoswords

5

Copyrighted Material

C H A P T E R O N E

Whereasherethesellernotonlytakesunfairadvantageofthebuyerrsquosignorancebuthascreatedandperpetuatedaconditionaboutwhichheisunlikelytoeveninquireenforcementofthecontract(inwholeorinpart)isoffensivetothecourtrsquossenseofequityApplicationoftheremedyofrescissionwithintheboundsof thenarrowexception to thedoctrineof caveat emptor setforthhereinisentirelyappropriatetorelievetheunwittingpur-chaserfromtheconsequencesofamostunnaturalbargain9

InThinking with DemonsStuartClarkaskedthathistoriansnot only take the risk involved in treating supernatural phe-nomenaasrealbutalsomoreimportantlyconsiderwhatcountsasrealTotakeupClarkrsquosargumentwemightsaythatRubintriedldquotomakeintelligibilityandnotrealityrdquohisaimIfahousehasbeenthesceneofamurderorsuicideitisaccordingtoreal-torsldquostigmatized propertyrdquo or ldquopsychologically impactedrdquoTobuyersa supernatural stigmamaymattermore thanphysicalcharacteristicsWecangofurtherandaddthatRubinrsquosargumentwasareasonableifnotwhollyliteralconstructionoffactsOntheterrainoftheundeadreasongambleswithirrationality10

ThereisareallegalproblemhereWhatdoesitmeanifyouengagelawinthestoryofghostsDoestheinterpretationqual-ifyasalegalfictionornotAtissuehereandintheensuingchaptersisnotwhetherghostsarerealornotbutwhetherornotinthelegalworldanewsituationisbeingdescribedasun-controversialAhouselooksvacantbutthelawdecreesitfullof spirits Some buyers might find this supernaturally addedvaluequiteenticingsuddenplenitudeinthefaceofapparentvacancy

ThelawhasahistoryofsuchimaginingmaderealAresilientacceptanceofunreality isanecessarypartof legalhistoryAttimestherewasnospecialruleofevidenceforpsychicphenom-enajustastherewasnoneedofproofforseeminglyirrationalracialbeliefsWecanturn to thespectralevidenceofdreamsandvisionsfamouslyadmittedbythepresidingCottonMatherduringtheSalemwitchtrialsaswellastootherinstanceswhen

6

Copyrighted Material

H O LY D O G S H E C U B Arsquo S B A R K

ancecoverageextendstosupernaturaldisastersIntheinterestofavoidingsuchuntenableconsequencesthenotionthatahaunt-ingisaconditionwhichcanandshouldbeascertaineduponrea-sonableinspectionofthepremisesisahobgoblinwhichshouldbeexorcisedfromthebodyoflegalprecedentandlaidquietlytorest

ArguingthatenforcingthiscontractwouldoffendtheldquospiritofequityrdquoRubinheld thatldquotheunwittingpurchaserrdquo should re-coverhismoneyandbereleasedfromldquoamostunnaturalbar-gainrdquoGhostsarenotliketermitesafterallandnoreasonableinspection of the premises could have made this infestationknowntoStambovsky2

The decision in this case made ghost hunters ecstatic andrealtorsanxiousbutitwasitsstylethatgaveit legalrenownRubinrsquosapproachandhisrelianceonghostsaslegalmattersug-gestedthatjudicialspeculationowedagreatdealtothedeadaswellastotheunrealBesideshisexplicitusesofcinematicandliteraryallusionstospectersincludingbothHamlet andGhost-bustershealsoraisedtheghostofequitybefore thecourtAsystemofjurisprudencethatofferedanalternativetocommonlawldquoequityrdquooriginatedinEnglandastheldquospiritrdquooffairnessldquoacourt of consciencerdquo3 Rubin suggested that though courts ofchanceryhavebeenreplacedinNewYorkbytheformalitiesoftheregularcourtsheintendedtoresurrectthespiritofequityforhewouldldquonotbestifledbyrigidapplicationofalegalmaximrdquoForhimtheappealbecameamatterofconscienceenablinghimtotranscendtheletterofthelawwhennecessaryOrheputthespiritbackintheletterannouncingattheoutsetthathewasldquomovedbythespiritofequitytoallowthebuyertoseekrescis-sionofthecontractofsaleandrecoveryofhisdownpaymentrdquo4

Theafterlifeofthisjudicialbewitchingnotonlychangedtheapplication of the doctrine of caveat emptor but made legalrights dependent upon supernatural phenomena In this wayRubintooktherealtorrsquostermldquostigmatizedpropertyrdquomdashahousepossessed by ghosts or where a murder or suicide had taken

3

Copyrighted Material

C H A P T E R O N E

placemdashandaskedthatwerecallsuchsupposedlyextinctlegalusagesasspectralevidenceandineradicablestigmaHedeclaredldquoCommonlaw isnotmoribundEx facto jus oritur (lawarisesoutoffacts)rdquoButwhatkindsoffactsaretheseAretheylegalfactsorlegalfictionsLiteralorfigurativeBadlogicbutgoodlawInRubinrsquosviewldquofairnessandcommonsensedictatethatanexceptionrdquomustbemadetotherulesoflawIsthisthebe-ginningperhapsofarationaleforhaunting5

AlthoughAckleyhadnostrictdutytodisclosethestigmaonthepropertynonethelessRubinwentbeyondtheclaimsofcivillawtoconsiderauniqueandequitableremedyHegaverelieftothebuyerandshowedhowlegalrulescouldbesurpassedbytheforceofanarchaismnolesspowerfulforbeingdisavowed

Rubinalsocalledupanotherghosttheantiquatedlegalfic-tionof civildeath the lossof civil andproprietary rightsbymonksnunsandfelonsForthefelontheritualofalienationoccasionedanunnaturalstatusbanishedfromthecommunityshornofpersonalitycondemnedtodegradationThis retribu-tiveandpunitivesanctionsurvivedinAmericaThepersoncon-victedoffelonyisaliveinfactbutdeadinlawInthissensetheghoststhatpossessedStambovskyrsquosnewhomeenforcedanewframingofanoldproblemThehousewashauntedinlawbutnot infactThiswasmoreterrifyingforsomethanifhehaddeclaredghostsrealInsteadRubinpositedarealityindepen-dent of any conception of what is real Some commentatorsthoughtthatldquoitwasasifsomeother-worldlyforceenteredthecourthouseandtookpossessionofthejudgesrdquoorthatRubinwasldquospeakingintonguesrdquo6

SincethemostfamouscasesofcivildeathinthenineteenthcenturywereinNewYorkRubinisonfamiliargroundConsid-eringStambovskyinlightofthisburiedhistorywewillseehowlegalreasoningmanipulatesthefictionsthatsustainidiomsofservility

Statutorylawin1799enforcedtheharshpracticesofstrictcivildeathalbeitinanovelwayTheeffectsofthisseveritywillbeexaminedfullyinthenextchapterbuthereletusnotewhat

4

Copyrighted Material

H O LY D O G S H E C U B Arsquo S B A R K

happenedwhenthestatutechangedthecommon-lawwordingldquoshallbedeemeddeadtoallintentsandpurposesinthelawrdquotoldquothereafterbedeemedcivillydeadrdquoDispossessedofalltheben-efitsoflawtheconvictwasdoomedin his person toperpetualincapacitationChancellorJamesKentsittingintheNewYorkCourtofChanceryuntil1823 lamented thatcivildeathen-suredldquoperpetualimprisonmentrdquoInPlatner v Sherwood(1822)heagreedwiththeargumentsofPlatnerrsquoslawyersldquoImprison-mentforlifewasapunishmentunknowntothecommonlawrdquoLatercasesintheCourtofAppealsofNewYorksuchasAvery v Everett (1888)demonstratedtheeeriestayingpowerofcivildeathevenifdeprivationswereamelioratedtoallowthecon-victtoretainhisrighttoproperty7

The factofpropertypossessedor lost becamecrucialnotonlytolegalstatusbutalsotopersonalidentityandthesacrificeoftheselftopunishmentAcreationoflawcivildeathistheghost that continues to torment persons convicted of crimeAssumingdifferentformsfromstatetostate itsembodimentdependsonstatuteand judicialargumentandthisdisenfran-chisementstillrendersprecarioustheabsolutesecurityofper-sonalproperty8

RubintakesthespecteroflegaldispossessionandgivesitanewroleFleshedoutinlawtheerranthauntsofasupposedlyoldandobsoleteeraresurfaceinahomeinNyackNewYorkRubinrsquos invocation of equity brings him to commit to law asurprisingandunexpecteddecisionNotonlydoeshemobilizethe impulses of equity buthe gives law thepower tomakeghostscountThishouseisnotvacantbutoccupiedWhatRubincalleditsldquoghoulishreputationrdquocannotbeexorcisedSinceAck-leyhadmademuchofthepossessionofherhousebyghoststhecourtdemandedthatsheshouldhaveadmittedthehauntingtoherunsuspectingbuyersSoshewasliablefornotdisclosingthefullfactsas she saw them AtaintorldquoimpairmentrdquodeliberatelypublicizedmadethehouseamagnetforghosthuntersandsuchaldquophantasmalreputationrdquowouldsignificantlydecreasethevalueofthehouseInRubinrsquoswords

5

Copyrighted Material

C H A P T E R O N E

Whereasherethesellernotonlytakesunfairadvantageofthebuyerrsquosignorancebuthascreatedandperpetuatedaconditionaboutwhichheisunlikelytoeveninquireenforcementofthecontract(inwholeorinpart)isoffensivetothecourtrsquossenseofequityApplicationoftheremedyofrescissionwithintheboundsof thenarrowexception to thedoctrineof caveat emptor setforthhereinisentirelyappropriatetorelievetheunwittingpur-chaserfromtheconsequencesofamostunnaturalbargain9

InThinking with DemonsStuartClarkaskedthathistoriansnot only take the risk involved in treating supernatural phe-nomenaasrealbutalsomoreimportantlyconsiderwhatcountsasrealTotakeupClarkrsquosargumentwemightsaythatRubintriedldquotomakeintelligibilityandnotrealityrdquohisaimIfahousehasbeenthesceneofamurderorsuicideitisaccordingtoreal-torsldquostigmatized propertyrdquo or ldquopsychologically impactedrdquoTobuyersa supernatural stigmamaymattermore thanphysicalcharacteristicsWecangofurtherandaddthatRubinrsquosargumentwasareasonableifnotwhollyliteralconstructionoffactsOntheterrainoftheundeadreasongambleswithirrationality10

ThereisareallegalproblemhereWhatdoesitmeanifyouengagelawinthestoryofghostsDoestheinterpretationqual-ifyasalegalfictionornotAtissuehereandintheensuingchaptersisnotwhetherghostsarerealornotbutwhetherornotinthelegalworldanewsituationisbeingdescribedasun-controversialAhouselooksvacantbutthelawdecreesitfullof spirits Some buyers might find this supernaturally addedvaluequiteenticingsuddenplenitudeinthefaceofapparentvacancy

ThelawhasahistoryofsuchimaginingmaderealAresilientacceptanceofunreality isanecessarypartof legalhistoryAttimestherewasnospecialruleofevidenceforpsychicphenom-enajustastherewasnoneedofproofforseeminglyirrationalracialbeliefsWecanturn to thespectralevidenceofdreamsandvisionsfamouslyadmittedbythepresidingCottonMatherduringtheSalemwitchtrialsaswellastootherinstanceswhen

6

Copyrighted Material

C H A P T E R O N E

placemdashandaskedthatwerecallsuchsupposedlyextinctlegalusagesasspectralevidenceandineradicablestigmaHedeclaredldquoCommonlaw isnotmoribundEx facto jus oritur (lawarisesoutoffacts)rdquoButwhatkindsoffactsaretheseAretheylegalfactsorlegalfictionsLiteralorfigurativeBadlogicbutgoodlawInRubinrsquosviewldquofairnessandcommonsensedictatethatanexceptionrdquomustbemadetotherulesoflawIsthisthebe-ginningperhapsofarationaleforhaunting5

AlthoughAckleyhadnostrictdutytodisclosethestigmaonthepropertynonethelessRubinwentbeyondtheclaimsofcivillawtoconsiderauniqueandequitableremedyHegaverelieftothebuyerandshowedhowlegalrulescouldbesurpassedbytheforceofanarchaismnolesspowerfulforbeingdisavowed

Rubinalsocalledupanotherghosttheantiquatedlegalfic-tionof civildeath the lossof civil andproprietary rightsbymonksnunsandfelonsForthefelontheritualofalienationoccasionedanunnaturalstatusbanishedfromthecommunityshornofpersonalitycondemnedtodegradationThis retribu-tiveandpunitivesanctionsurvivedinAmericaThepersoncon-victedoffelonyisaliveinfactbutdeadinlawInthissensetheghoststhatpossessedStambovskyrsquosnewhomeenforcedanewframingofanoldproblemThehousewashauntedinlawbutnot infactThiswasmoreterrifyingforsomethanifhehaddeclaredghostsrealInsteadRubinpositedarealityindepen-dent of any conception of what is real Some commentatorsthoughtthatldquoitwasasifsomeother-worldlyforceenteredthecourthouseandtookpossessionofthejudgesrdquoorthatRubinwasldquospeakingintonguesrdquo6

SincethemostfamouscasesofcivildeathinthenineteenthcenturywereinNewYorkRubinisonfamiliargroundConsid-eringStambovskyinlightofthisburiedhistorywewillseehowlegalreasoningmanipulatesthefictionsthatsustainidiomsofservility

Statutorylawin1799enforcedtheharshpracticesofstrictcivildeathalbeitinanovelwayTheeffectsofthisseveritywillbeexaminedfullyinthenextchapterbuthereletusnotewhat

4

Copyrighted Material

H O LY D O G S H E C U B Arsquo S B A R K

happenedwhenthestatutechangedthecommon-lawwordingldquoshallbedeemeddeadtoallintentsandpurposesinthelawrdquotoldquothereafterbedeemedcivillydeadrdquoDispossessedofalltheben-efitsoflawtheconvictwasdoomedin his person toperpetualincapacitationChancellorJamesKentsittingintheNewYorkCourtofChanceryuntil1823 lamented thatcivildeathen-suredldquoperpetualimprisonmentrdquoInPlatner v Sherwood(1822)heagreedwiththeargumentsofPlatnerrsquoslawyersldquoImprison-mentforlifewasapunishmentunknowntothecommonlawrdquoLatercasesintheCourtofAppealsofNewYorksuchasAvery v Everett (1888)demonstratedtheeeriestayingpowerofcivildeathevenifdeprivationswereamelioratedtoallowthecon-victtoretainhisrighttoproperty7

The factofpropertypossessedor lost becamecrucialnotonlytolegalstatusbutalsotopersonalidentityandthesacrificeoftheselftopunishmentAcreationoflawcivildeathistheghost that continues to torment persons convicted of crimeAssumingdifferentformsfromstatetostate itsembodimentdependsonstatuteand judicialargumentandthisdisenfran-chisementstillrendersprecarioustheabsolutesecurityofper-sonalproperty8

RubintakesthespecteroflegaldispossessionandgivesitanewroleFleshedoutinlawtheerranthauntsofasupposedlyoldandobsoleteeraresurfaceinahomeinNyackNewYorkRubinrsquos invocation of equity brings him to commit to law asurprisingandunexpecteddecisionNotonlydoeshemobilizethe impulses of equity buthe gives law thepower tomakeghostscountThishouseisnotvacantbutoccupiedWhatRubincalleditsldquoghoulishreputationrdquocannotbeexorcisedSinceAck-leyhadmademuchofthepossessionofherhousebyghoststhecourtdemandedthatsheshouldhaveadmittedthehauntingtoherunsuspectingbuyersSoshewasliablefornotdisclosingthefullfactsas she saw them AtaintorldquoimpairmentrdquodeliberatelypublicizedmadethehouseamagnetforghosthuntersandsuchaldquophantasmalreputationrdquowouldsignificantlydecreasethevalueofthehouseInRubinrsquoswords

5

Copyrighted Material

C H A P T E R O N E

Whereasherethesellernotonlytakesunfairadvantageofthebuyerrsquosignorancebuthascreatedandperpetuatedaconditionaboutwhichheisunlikelytoeveninquireenforcementofthecontract(inwholeorinpart)isoffensivetothecourtrsquossenseofequityApplicationoftheremedyofrescissionwithintheboundsof thenarrowexception to thedoctrineof caveat emptor setforthhereinisentirelyappropriatetorelievetheunwittingpur-chaserfromtheconsequencesofamostunnaturalbargain9

InThinking with DemonsStuartClarkaskedthathistoriansnot only take the risk involved in treating supernatural phe-nomenaasrealbutalsomoreimportantlyconsiderwhatcountsasrealTotakeupClarkrsquosargumentwemightsaythatRubintriedldquotomakeintelligibilityandnotrealityrdquohisaimIfahousehasbeenthesceneofamurderorsuicideitisaccordingtoreal-torsldquostigmatized propertyrdquo or ldquopsychologically impactedrdquoTobuyersa supernatural stigmamaymattermore thanphysicalcharacteristicsWecangofurtherandaddthatRubinrsquosargumentwasareasonableifnotwhollyliteralconstructionoffactsOntheterrainoftheundeadreasongambleswithirrationality10

ThereisareallegalproblemhereWhatdoesitmeanifyouengagelawinthestoryofghostsDoestheinterpretationqual-ifyasalegalfictionornotAtissuehereandintheensuingchaptersisnotwhetherghostsarerealornotbutwhetherornotinthelegalworldanewsituationisbeingdescribedasun-controversialAhouselooksvacantbutthelawdecreesitfullof spirits Some buyers might find this supernaturally addedvaluequiteenticingsuddenplenitudeinthefaceofapparentvacancy

ThelawhasahistoryofsuchimaginingmaderealAresilientacceptanceofunreality isanecessarypartof legalhistoryAttimestherewasnospecialruleofevidenceforpsychicphenom-enajustastherewasnoneedofproofforseeminglyirrationalracialbeliefsWecanturn to thespectralevidenceofdreamsandvisionsfamouslyadmittedbythepresidingCottonMatherduringtheSalemwitchtrialsaswellastootherinstanceswhen

6

Copyrighted Material

H O LY D O G S H E C U B Arsquo S B A R K

happenedwhenthestatutechangedthecommon-lawwordingldquoshallbedeemeddeadtoallintentsandpurposesinthelawrdquotoldquothereafterbedeemedcivillydeadrdquoDispossessedofalltheben-efitsoflawtheconvictwasdoomedin his person toperpetualincapacitationChancellorJamesKentsittingintheNewYorkCourtofChanceryuntil1823 lamented thatcivildeathen-suredldquoperpetualimprisonmentrdquoInPlatner v Sherwood(1822)heagreedwiththeargumentsofPlatnerrsquoslawyersldquoImprison-mentforlifewasapunishmentunknowntothecommonlawrdquoLatercasesintheCourtofAppealsofNewYorksuchasAvery v Everett (1888)demonstratedtheeeriestayingpowerofcivildeathevenifdeprivationswereamelioratedtoallowthecon-victtoretainhisrighttoproperty7

The factofpropertypossessedor lost becamecrucialnotonlytolegalstatusbutalsotopersonalidentityandthesacrificeoftheselftopunishmentAcreationoflawcivildeathistheghost that continues to torment persons convicted of crimeAssumingdifferentformsfromstatetostate itsembodimentdependsonstatuteand judicialargumentandthisdisenfran-chisementstillrendersprecarioustheabsolutesecurityofper-sonalproperty8

RubintakesthespecteroflegaldispossessionandgivesitanewroleFleshedoutinlawtheerranthauntsofasupposedlyoldandobsoleteeraresurfaceinahomeinNyackNewYorkRubinrsquos invocation of equity brings him to commit to law asurprisingandunexpecteddecisionNotonlydoeshemobilizethe impulses of equity buthe gives law thepower tomakeghostscountThishouseisnotvacantbutoccupiedWhatRubincalleditsldquoghoulishreputationrdquocannotbeexorcisedSinceAck-leyhadmademuchofthepossessionofherhousebyghoststhecourtdemandedthatsheshouldhaveadmittedthehauntingtoherunsuspectingbuyersSoshewasliablefornotdisclosingthefullfactsas she saw them AtaintorldquoimpairmentrdquodeliberatelypublicizedmadethehouseamagnetforghosthuntersandsuchaldquophantasmalreputationrdquowouldsignificantlydecreasethevalueofthehouseInRubinrsquoswords

5

Copyrighted Material

C H A P T E R O N E

Whereasherethesellernotonlytakesunfairadvantageofthebuyerrsquosignorancebuthascreatedandperpetuatedaconditionaboutwhichheisunlikelytoeveninquireenforcementofthecontract(inwholeorinpart)isoffensivetothecourtrsquossenseofequityApplicationoftheremedyofrescissionwithintheboundsof thenarrowexception to thedoctrineof caveat emptor setforthhereinisentirelyappropriatetorelievetheunwittingpur-chaserfromtheconsequencesofamostunnaturalbargain9

InThinking with DemonsStuartClarkaskedthathistoriansnot only take the risk involved in treating supernatural phe-nomenaasrealbutalsomoreimportantlyconsiderwhatcountsasrealTotakeupClarkrsquosargumentwemightsaythatRubintriedldquotomakeintelligibilityandnotrealityrdquohisaimIfahousehasbeenthesceneofamurderorsuicideitisaccordingtoreal-torsldquostigmatized propertyrdquo or ldquopsychologically impactedrdquoTobuyersa supernatural stigmamaymattermore thanphysicalcharacteristicsWecangofurtherandaddthatRubinrsquosargumentwasareasonableifnotwhollyliteralconstructionoffactsOntheterrainoftheundeadreasongambleswithirrationality10

ThereisareallegalproblemhereWhatdoesitmeanifyouengagelawinthestoryofghostsDoestheinterpretationqual-ifyasalegalfictionornotAtissuehereandintheensuingchaptersisnotwhetherghostsarerealornotbutwhetherornotinthelegalworldanewsituationisbeingdescribedasun-controversialAhouselooksvacantbutthelawdecreesitfullof spirits Some buyers might find this supernaturally addedvaluequiteenticingsuddenplenitudeinthefaceofapparentvacancy

ThelawhasahistoryofsuchimaginingmaderealAresilientacceptanceofunreality isanecessarypartof legalhistoryAttimestherewasnospecialruleofevidenceforpsychicphenom-enajustastherewasnoneedofproofforseeminglyirrationalracialbeliefsWecanturn to thespectralevidenceofdreamsandvisionsfamouslyadmittedbythepresidingCottonMatherduringtheSalemwitchtrialsaswellastootherinstanceswhen

6

Copyrighted Material

C H A P T E R O N E

Whereasherethesellernotonlytakesunfairadvantageofthebuyerrsquosignorancebuthascreatedandperpetuatedaconditionaboutwhichheisunlikelytoeveninquireenforcementofthecontract(inwholeorinpart)isoffensivetothecourtrsquossenseofequityApplicationoftheremedyofrescissionwithintheboundsof thenarrowexception to thedoctrineof caveat emptor setforthhereinisentirelyappropriatetorelievetheunwittingpur-chaserfromtheconsequencesofamostunnaturalbargain9

InThinking with DemonsStuartClarkaskedthathistoriansnot only take the risk involved in treating supernatural phe-nomenaasrealbutalsomoreimportantlyconsiderwhatcountsasrealTotakeupClarkrsquosargumentwemightsaythatRubintriedldquotomakeintelligibilityandnotrealityrdquohisaimIfahousehasbeenthesceneofamurderorsuicideitisaccordingtoreal-torsldquostigmatized propertyrdquo or ldquopsychologically impactedrdquoTobuyersa supernatural stigmamaymattermore thanphysicalcharacteristicsWecangofurtherandaddthatRubinrsquosargumentwasareasonableifnotwhollyliteralconstructionoffactsOntheterrainoftheundeadreasongambleswithirrationality10

ThereisareallegalproblemhereWhatdoesitmeanifyouengagelawinthestoryofghostsDoestheinterpretationqual-ifyasalegalfictionornotAtissuehereandintheensuingchaptersisnotwhetherghostsarerealornotbutwhetherornotinthelegalworldanewsituationisbeingdescribedasun-controversialAhouselooksvacantbutthelawdecreesitfullof spirits Some buyers might find this supernaturally addedvaluequiteenticingsuddenplenitudeinthefaceofapparentvacancy

ThelawhasahistoryofsuchimaginingmaderealAresilientacceptanceofunreality isanecessarypartof legalhistoryAttimestherewasnospecialruleofevidenceforpsychicphenom-enajustastherewasnoneedofproofforseeminglyirrationalracialbeliefsWecanturn to thespectralevidenceofdreamsandvisionsfamouslyadmittedbythepresidingCottonMatherduringtheSalemwitchtrialsaswellastootherinstanceswhen

6

Copyrighted Material

H O LY D O G S H E C U B Arsquo S B A R K

invisibleattributesweregrantedlegalvalidityWhatwaslegallypossiblelonginvolvedgive-and-takebetweensuchcategoriesasthingandselfphysicalandincorporealwickednessandvirtueAlthoughhauntedhousesdidnotoftenbecomethesubjectoflegalproceedingstherearemucholderaccountsoftenantswhorefusedtopayrentbecauseofghostsortoremainforlongwithspectralnuisancesInawell-knowncasebeforetheParlementofParisaround1550rollickingspiritsmademorenoise thanbarkingdogsJustasghostlyoccupationofahouseremainedinthe late twentieth century an impediment to its sale for thepurposesoflawifnotordinarylifetheundueinfluenceofcom-municationsfromthedeadespeciallywhenuntimelydeathsordisputedwillsareatissuemustbetakenseriously11

D I D A N YO N E D I E H E R E

thephantasmoftodayissooftenarealityofto-morrow

mdashBurchill v Hermsmeyer(1919)

ThepuzzlefacedbyRubinrsquoscourthasahistoryLegalcompli-cationsarisingfromspectersintrudingintomarriagesdivorcesandthebuyingandsellingofhouseswerethesubjectofathesisfortheDoctorateofLawsinJenaonJune251700InhisDis-putatio Juridica de Jure Spectrorum (JuridicalDisputationontheLawofGhosts)republishedforty-fiveyearslaterAndreasBeckerconfrontedthequestionofpossessionanddiscussedtherightsoftenantswiveshusbandstutorsservantsandcriminalswhenfacedwithghostsHeexplainsthatifspiritshauntoneofthebetrothedontheeveofnuptialstheothercanbackoutofthematchIfsuchldquoobsessionrdquooccursaftermarriagehoweveritisnot legally recognizedas a cause fordivorcenomatterhowmuchdestructionisbroughttothehouseholdHauntedhousesldquosoinfestedwithspectersastobevirtuallyuselessrdquotriggerthe

7

Copyrighted Material

C H A P T E R O N E

mostprotractedanalysesAfterconsideringahousepresentedasdoweror rentalpropertybut foundtobehauntedBeckerturnstotherightsofabuyerwhoinadvertentlypurchasespos-sessedproperty

Ifahouseissoldandthepurchaserfindsithauntedcanhede-mandarescindingofthecontractofsaleYesifthespectershadinfestedthehousebeforethesaleandhehadnotknownitHisactionwouldbede dolo [abouttrickery]andhemightbeaidedbyanactio ad redhibendum[actionforrecovery] Proofofguiltyknowledgeonthepartoftheownermightbedifficultandthebestmeanswouldbeper delationem juramenti[bydeposinganoath]

Inthistimeofanimaltrialsdemonicpossessionandtheinter-rogationofallegedwitchesbytortureBeckerrecognizedotherdarkcornersofpainandsufferingthatherefusedtoignoreorconcealFacedwithdemonicinfestationswhetherinhousesorintheconjugalbedBeckerconcludedwithaninsightintotheterrorsofsolitaryconfinementtellingussomethingaboutju-ridicaldemonsasmuchinneedofreformationasanyinfernalmysticism

Asdemoniacalapparitionsseekdarkplacesinpreferencedarkprisons are particularly infested with them Can a judge thenthrustamanaccused(guilty)ofcapitaloffenceintoadungeonwhichheknowstobesuspectedofspectersBynomeansforhethusexposeshimtotheriskofcommittingsuicideandprisonsareplacesforsafe-keepingandnotforpunishmentThosejudgesareinconsiderate(inconsulti)whosendthemoreatrociouscrim-inals to dungeonswhich are knownby experience to be thusinfestedforthepurposeofrepressingtheircontumacy

Abeliefinghostsrestsperhapsalltooeasilyalongsidetheprac-ticesoflawandleadsBeckerlikeWilliamBlackstoneandJer-emyBenthamafterhimtorecognizethedireeffectsofsilentsequesteredplacesofincarcerationBenthamcametobelievethatsolitudewasldquotortureineffectrdquoldquoWhentheexternalsenses

8

Copyrighted Material

H O LY D O G S H E C U B Arsquo S B A R K

arerestrainedfromactionrdquoinldquoastateofsolitudeinfantinesu-perstitionsghostsandspectersrecurtotheimaginationThisofitselfformsasufficientreasonfornotprolongingthisspeciesofpunishmentrdquo12

GhostsareneverproofofvacancybutevidenceofplenitudeThey return chock full of memories and longing For themnothing is ever past and sometimes they appear to test thelimitsofdeathor itsmeaning inaworldof terrorThemanyformsofthedeadinthetwenty-firstcenturyaskustolookagainat the way ghosts invade the precincts of the normalWhentheytearoffthemaskofcertaintywebegintoknowhowsuchtermsasldquoprelogicalrdquoldquoirrationalrdquoorldquoprimitiverdquoarefree-floatingandeasilymanipulatedIndignitiesanddamagescontinueundercoverofcivilizationldquoTorturerdquoasEdwardPeterswroteldquoisoneofthosesignsofincreasedsocialrationalismthatpraisersofra-tionalismoftenneglectrdquo13Theincreasedrelianceonjudicialrea-soninvigoratesldquosystemsofterrorrdquomoresinisterbecausecovert

ldquoWhenIamaspookyphantomyouwanttoavoidwhenthereisnothingbut a shadowof apublic civil liferdquo the sociologistAveryGordonwritesinGhostly Mattersthenldquodeeplsquowoundsincivilizationrsquoareinhauntingevidencerdquo14LikeghoststhelawbusiesitselfwithpropertygivingitpreeminencePropertybearsthemarkofpersonsthatarelosttothelivingandthelegalact-ingasifspectralleadsusintopathsofthoughtsouncertainthatweshouldbeveryafraidofsuchplacesYetastheendlesspro-cessionsofdeadpeoplefindtheirwayintolegalnarrativestheyalsopresentthreatstocomfortandtotheinheritedprejudicethattakesrootthereSolawslidesbackwardintothepast

Whenghostscomebeforethelawaswehaveseentheyaresometimes treated as if real insofar as they have legal effectWhatseemssupernaturalorevenextraordinaryonceinthepres-enceof judgesbecomesmerelyunusualThe law instinctwemightargueispermanentlyprimitivetoinvokeallthebiasinthetermThecommon-lawhoardofprecedentinitslanguageanditerationdragsintolightthemythsofmodernityandcivi-lization In itsprecinctsanythingcanhappen the residuesof

9

Copyrighted Material

C H A P T E R O N E

human materials forgotten are dredged up when necessaryOncethedoorsareopenedintothehouseoflawwefindim-plausiblemetamorphoses thathave thepower toexploit andoppressOnce insideweencounterhistorical fragments legalfictionsandspiritualbeliefsWeseehumansturnedintothingsghostsintopersonsandcorpsesintospiritsTheintriguingthingisthethoroughlymatter-of-factwaythesephenomenaaredealtwithlegally

ForlegalpurposesincasesofundueinfluencedefamationorfraudspectralemanationsmaybecomeproofjustlikeanyfactsOnthisbewitchedgroundthefantasticandthecommon-placeintermingleInthecaseofwillsespeciallyevenwhenthelawdoesnot acknowledge theunique gifts of spiritualists itsometimes admits as valid the communications of the deadSomeearlytwentieth-centurycourtsrefusedtoinvalidatethewillsofbelieversdistinguishingbetweenbeliefincommunionwithdepartedspiritsandoutrightinsanityWhenpropertywastobebequeathedmostappellatecourtsinAmericaallowedthetestatorrsquosbeliefinldquowitchcraftclairvoyancespiritualinfluencespresentimentsoftheoccurrencesoffutureeventsdreamsmind-readingandthe likerdquoas theSupremeCourtof Illinoisdeter-mined in Carnahan v Hamilton (1914) Blewett Lee a NewYorkattorneywroteintheHarvard Law Review (1921)

JusticeandcommonsenserequirethatthejudgeorjuryshouldputthemselvesaswellastheycanforthispurposeintheplaceofthebelieverIfforexampleapersonbelievedthathisdeadmothertoldhimtomakeacertaindevisethecommunicationshouldbedealtwithsofarasthebelieverisconcernedasifithadinfactbeenmadebyhismother

Presentingthemselveseitherinoroutofthefleshspiritmes-sengersexertrealpressuresonthetestatorrsquosmindandcourtsmustattendtoevidenceofmalfeasancefromcharlatansorcrim-inalsboth livinganddeadldquoThemore importance isgiventothesecommunicationsrdquoLeeexplainedldquotheeasieritwillbetobreakwillsorcontractsmadeundertheircontrolrdquoEccentricity

10

Copyrighted Material

H O LY D O G S H E C U B Arsquo S B A R K

wasnotinsanityhoweverandexceptincasesofinsanedelu-sionwillswerenotinvalidatedonaccountofsuchpeculiaritiesInnumerouseighteenth-andnineteenth-centuryappellatecasesespeciallycourtssustainedthewillsofthoseadvisedbymedi-umschannelingthewishesofdeceasedlovedonesintothemindsofbelievers15

InMcClary v Stull(1895)theNebraskaSupremeCourtup-heldawidowrsquosbequestdenyingthathersuperstitiousbeliefsincapacitatedherfrommakingawillInsteaditlegallyvalidatedtheevidenceofspiritpossessionaslongasthetestatorrsquoswillwasherown

Lawitissaidisldquooftheearthearthyrdquoandthatspirit-willsaretoocelestialforcognizancebyearthlytribunalsmdashapropositionreadilyconcededandyetthecourtshavenotassumedtodenyto spiritsof thedeparted theprivilegeofholdingcommunionwiththoseoftheirfriendswhoarestill inthefleshsolongastheydonotinterferewithvestedrightsorbythemeansofundueinfluenceseektoprejudicetheinterestsofpersonsstillwithinourjurisdiction

ThisenchantmentoncerecognizedbylawtreadsperilouslyinrealmsthatseemtobeoutsidetheprecinctsofreasonForwhoistojudgewhetherornotthetestatorrsquosfreeagencyhasbeendestroyedAlatercaseintheSupremeCourtofSouthDakotaIrwin v Lattin(1912)resortedtomagicalthinkingldquoItissuffi-cienttosaythatawillbroughtaboutbyaninfluencewhichthetestatorcould not resist is not his willrdquoButwemightcomplainthetestatorisdeadWhatkindofpsychicpowermustthelawpossesswhenitmakesjudgmentsaboutcapacityordisabilityAsweshallseethisjudicialreasoninghasthepowertogiveandtotakeawaytoaffirmpersonalityandtodenyit16

Acureforallkindsofthreatsreasonablenesshasalwaysbeenanecessarypresuppositionforextendingenslavementanddis-abilityButthislegalrationalityistiedtofigurativepowerandatanymomentitsmetaphorscanbecomemoreinsistentliteraloperatingasRobertCoverfamouslywroteldquoonafieldofpain

11

Copyrighted Material

H O LY D O G S H E C U B Arsquo S B A R K

arerestrainedfromactionrdquoinldquoastateofsolitudeinfantinesu-perstitionsghostsandspectersrecurtotheimaginationThisofitselfformsasufficientreasonfornotprolongingthisspeciesofpunishmentrdquo12

GhostsareneverproofofvacancybutevidenceofplenitudeThey return chock full of memories and longing For themnothing is ever past and sometimes they appear to test thelimitsofdeathor itsmeaning inaworldof terrorThemanyformsofthedeadinthetwenty-firstcenturyaskustolookagainat the way ghosts invade the precincts of the normalWhentheytearoffthemaskofcertaintywebegintoknowhowsuchtermsasldquoprelogicalrdquoldquoirrationalrdquoorldquoprimitiverdquoarefree-floatingandeasilymanipulatedIndignitiesanddamagescontinueundercoverofcivilizationldquoTorturerdquoasEdwardPeterswroteldquoisoneofthosesignsofincreasedsocialrationalismthatpraisersofra-tionalismoftenneglectrdquo13Theincreasedrelianceonjudicialrea-soninvigoratesldquosystemsofterrorrdquomoresinisterbecausecovert

ldquoWhenIamaspookyphantomyouwanttoavoidwhenthereisnothingbut a shadowof apublic civil liferdquo the sociologistAveryGordonwritesinGhostly Mattersthenldquodeeplsquowoundsincivilizationrsquoareinhauntingevidencerdquo14LikeghoststhelawbusiesitselfwithpropertygivingitpreeminencePropertybearsthemarkofpersonsthatarelosttothelivingandthelegalact-ingasifspectralleadsusintopathsofthoughtsouncertainthatweshouldbeveryafraidofsuchplacesYetastheendlesspro-cessionsofdeadpeoplefindtheirwayintolegalnarrativestheyalsopresentthreatstocomfortandtotheinheritedprejudicethattakesrootthereSolawslidesbackwardintothepast

Whenghostscomebeforethelawaswehaveseentheyaresometimes treated as if real insofar as they have legal effectWhatseemssupernaturalorevenextraordinaryonceinthepres-enceof judgesbecomesmerelyunusualThe law instinctwemightargueispermanentlyprimitivetoinvokeallthebiasinthetermThecommon-lawhoardofprecedentinitslanguageanditerationdragsintolightthemythsofmodernityandcivi-lization In itsprecinctsanythingcanhappen the residuesof

9

Copyrighted Material

C H A P T E R O N E

human materials forgotten are dredged up when necessaryOncethedoorsareopenedintothehouseoflawwefindim-plausiblemetamorphoses thathave thepower toexploit andoppressOnce insideweencounterhistorical fragments legalfictionsandspiritualbeliefsWeseehumansturnedintothingsghostsintopersonsandcorpsesintospiritsTheintriguingthingisthethoroughlymatter-of-factwaythesephenomenaaredealtwithlegally

ForlegalpurposesincasesofundueinfluencedefamationorfraudspectralemanationsmaybecomeproofjustlikeanyfactsOnthisbewitchedgroundthefantasticandthecommon-placeintermingleInthecaseofwillsespeciallyevenwhenthelawdoesnot acknowledge theunique gifts of spiritualists itsometimes admits as valid the communications of the deadSomeearlytwentieth-centurycourtsrefusedtoinvalidatethewillsofbelieversdistinguishingbetweenbeliefincommunionwithdepartedspiritsandoutrightinsanityWhenpropertywastobebequeathedmostappellatecourtsinAmericaallowedthetestatorrsquosbeliefinldquowitchcraftclairvoyancespiritualinfluencespresentimentsoftheoccurrencesoffutureeventsdreamsmind-readingandthe likerdquoas theSupremeCourtof Illinoisdeter-mined in Carnahan v Hamilton (1914) Blewett Lee a NewYorkattorneywroteintheHarvard Law Review (1921)

JusticeandcommonsenserequirethatthejudgeorjuryshouldputthemselvesaswellastheycanforthispurposeintheplaceofthebelieverIfforexampleapersonbelievedthathisdeadmothertoldhimtomakeacertaindevisethecommunicationshouldbedealtwithsofarasthebelieverisconcernedasifithadinfactbeenmadebyhismother

Presentingthemselveseitherinoroutofthefleshspiritmes-sengersexertrealpressuresonthetestatorrsquosmindandcourtsmustattendtoevidenceofmalfeasancefromcharlatansorcrim-inalsboth livinganddeadldquoThemore importance isgiventothesecommunicationsrdquoLeeexplainedldquotheeasieritwillbetobreakwillsorcontractsmadeundertheircontrolrdquoEccentricity

10

Copyrighted Material

H O LY D O G S H E C U B Arsquo S B A R K

wasnotinsanityhoweverandexceptincasesofinsanedelu-sionwillswerenotinvalidatedonaccountofsuchpeculiaritiesInnumerouseighteenth-andnineteenth-centuryappellatecasesespeciallycourtssustainedthewillsofthoseadvisedbymedi-umschannelingthewishesofdeceasedlovedonesintothemindsofbelievers15

InMcClary v Stull(1895)theNebraskaSupremeCourtup-heldawidowrsquosbequestdenyingthathersuperstitiousbeliefsincapacitatedherfrommakingawillInsteaditlegallyvalidatedtheevidenceofspiritpossessionaslongasthetestatorrsquoswillwasherown

Lawitissaidisldquooftheearthearthyrdquoandthatspirit-willsaretoocelestialforcognizancebyearthlytribunalsmdashapropositionreadilyconcededandyetthecourtshavenotassumedtodenyto spiritsof thedeparted theprivilegeofholdingcommunionwiththoseoftheirfriendswhoarestill inthefleshsolongastheydonotinterferewithvestedrightsorbythemeansofundueinfluenceseektoprejudicetheinterestsofpersonsstillwithinourjurisdiction

ThisenchantmentoncerecognizedbylawtreadsperilouslyinrealmsthatseemtobeoutsidetheprecinctsofreasonForwhoistojudgewhetherornotthetestatorrsquosfreeagencyhasbeendestroyedAlatercaseintheSupremeCourtofSouthDakotaIrwin v Lattin(1912)resortedtomagicalthinkingldquoItissuffi-cienttosaythatawillbroughtaboutbyaninfluencewhichthetestatorcould not resist is not his willrdquoButwemightcomplainthetestatorisdeadWhatkindofpsychicpowermustthelawpossesswhenitmakesjudgmentsaboutcapacityordisabilityAsweshallseethisjudicialreasoninghasthepowertogiveandtotakeawaytoaffirmpersonalityandtodenyit16

Acureforallkindsofthreatsreasonablenesshasalwaysbeenanecessarypresuppositionforextendingenslavementanddis-abilityButthislegalrationalityistiedtofigurativepowerandatanymomentitsmetaphorscanbecomemoreinsistentliteraloperatingasRobertCoverfamouslywroteldquoonafieldofpain

11

Copyrighted Material

C H A P T E R O N E

human materials forgotten are dredged up when necessaryOncethedoorsareopenedintothehouseoflawwefindim-plausiblemetamorphoses thathave thepower toexploit andoppressOnce insideweencounterhistorical fragments legalfictionsandspiritualbeliefsWeseehumansturnedintothingsghostsintopersonsandcorpsesintospiritsTheintriguingthingisthethoroughlymatter-of-factwaythesephenomenaaredealtwithlegally

ForlegalpurposesincasesofundueinfluencedefamationorfraudspectralemanationsmaybecomeproofjustlikeanyfactsOnthisbewitchedgroundthefantasticandthecommon-placeintermingleInthecaseofwillsespeciallyevenwhenthelawdoesnot acknowledge theunique gifts of spiritualists itsometimes admits as valid the communications of the deadSomeearlytwentieth-centurycourtsrefusedtoinvalidatethewillsofbelieversdistinguishingbetweenbeliefincommunionwithdepartedspiritsandoutrightinsanityWhenpropertywastobebequeathedmostappellatecourtsinAmericaallowedthetestatorrsquosbeliefinldquowitchcraftclairvoyancespiritualinfluencespresentimentsoftheoccurrencesoffutureeventsdreamsmind-readingandthe likerdquoas theSupremeCourtof Illinoisdeter-mined in Carnahan v Hamilton (1914) Blewett Lee a NewYorkattorneywroteintheHarvard Law Review (1921)

JusticeandcommonsenserequirethatthejudgeorjuryshouldputthemselvesaswellastheycanforthispurposeintheplaceofthebelieverIfforexampleapersonbelievedthathisdeadmothertoldhimtomakeacertaindevisethecommunicationshouldbedealtwithsofarasthebelieverisconcernedasifithadinfactbeenmadebyhismother

Presentingthemselveseitherinoroutofthefleshspiritmes-sengersexertrealpressuresonthetestatorrsquosmindandcourtsmustattendtoevidenceofmalfeasancefromcharlatansorcrim-inalsboth livinganddeadldquoThemore importance isgiventothesecommunicationsrdquoLeeexplainedldquotheeasieritwillbetobreakwillsorcontractsmadeundertheircontrolrdquoEccentricity

10

Copyrighted Material

H O LY D O G S H E C U B Arsquo S B A R K

wasnotinsanityhoweverandexceptincasesofinsanedelu-sionwillswerenotinvalidatedonaccountofsuchpeculiaritiesInnumerouseighteenth-andnineteenth-centuryappellatecasesespeciallycourtssustainedthewillsofthoseadvisedbymedi-umschannelingthewishesofdeceasedlovedonesintothemindsofbelievers15

InMcClary v Stull(1895)theNebraskaSupremeCourtup-heldawidowrsquosbequestdenyingthathersuperstitiousbeliefsincapacitatedherfrommakingawillInsteaditlegallyvalidatedtheevidenceofspiritpossessionaslongasthetestatorrsquoswillwasherown

Lawitissaidisldquooftheearthearthyrdquoandthatspirit-willsaretoocelestialforcognizancebyearthlytribunalsmdashapropositionreadilyconcededandyetthecourtshavenotassumedtodenyto spiritsof thedeparted theprivilegeofholdingcommunionwiththoseoftheirfriendswhoarestill inthefleshsolongastheydonotinterferewithvestedrightsorbythemeansofundueinfluenceseektoprejudicetheinterestsofpersonsstillwithinourjurisdiction

ThisenchantmentoncerecognizedbylawtreadsperilouslyinrealmsthatseemtobeoutsidetheprecinctsofreasonForwhoistojudgewhetherornotthetestatorrsquosfreeagencyhasbeendestroyedAlatercaseintheSupremeCourtofSouthDakotaIrwin v Lattin(1912)resortedtomagicalthinkingldquoItissuffi-cienttosaythatawillbroughtaboutbyaninfluencewhichthetestatorcould not resist is not his willrdquoButwemightcomplainthetestatorisdeadWhatkindofpsychicpowermustthelawpossesswhenitmakesjudgmentsaboutcapacityordisabilityAsweshallseethisjudicialreasoninghasthepowertogiveandtotakeawaytoaffirmpersonalityandtodenyit16

Acureforallkindsofthreatsreasonablenesshasalwaysbeenanecessarypresuppositionforextendingenslavementanddis-abilityButthislegalrationalityistiedtofigurativepowerandatanymomentitsmetaphorscanbecomemoreinsistentliteraloperatingasRobertCoverfamouslywroteldquoonafieldofpain

11

Copyrighted Material

H O LY D O G S H E C U B Arsquo S B A R K

wasnotinsanityhoweverandexceptincasesofinsanedelu-sionwillswerenotinvalidatedonaccountofsuchpeculiaritiesInnumerouseighteenth-andnineteenth-centuryappellatecasesespeciallycourtssustainedthewillsofthoseadvisedbymedi-umschannelingthewishesofdeceasedlovedonesintothemindsofbelievers15

InMcClary v Stull(1895)theNebraskaSupremeCourtup-heldawidowrsquosbequestdenyingthathersuperstitiousbeliefsincapacitatedherfrommakingawillInsteaditlegallyvalidatedtheevidenceofspiritpossessionaslongasthetestatorrsquoswillwasherown

Lawitissaidisldquooftheearthearthyrdquoandthatspirit-willsaretoocelestialforcognizancebyearthlytribunalsmdashapropositionreadilyconcededandyetthecourtshavenotassumedtodenyto spiritsof thedeparted theprivilegeofholdingcommunionwiththoseoftheirfriendswhoarestill inthefleshsolongastheydonotinterferewithvestedrightsorbythemeansofundueinfluenceseektoprejudicetheinterestsofpersonsstillwithinourjurisdiction

ThisenchantmentoncerecognizedbylawtreadsperilouslyinrealmsthatseemtobeoutsidetheprecinctsofreasonForwhoistojudgewhetherornotthetestatorrsquosfreeagencyhasbeendestroyedAlatercaseintheSupremeCourtofSouthDakotaIrwin v Lattin(1912)resortedtomagicalthinkingldquoItissuffi-cienttosaythatawillbroughtaboutbyaninfluencewhichthetestatorcould not resist is not his willrdquoButwemightcomplainthetestatorisdeadWhatkindofpsychicpowermustthelawpossesswhenitmakesjudgmentsaboutcapacityordisabilityAsweshallseethisjudicialreasoninghasthepowertogiveandtotakeawaytoaffirmpersonalityandtodenyit16

Acureforallkindsofthreatsreasonablenesshasalwaysbeenanecessarypresuppositionforextendingenslavementanddis-abilityButthislegalrationalityistiedtofigurativepowerandatanymomentitsmetaphorscanbecomemoreinsistentliteraloperatingasRobertCoverfamouslywroteldquoonafieldofpain

11

Copyrighted Material

C H A P T E R O N E

anddeathrdquo17Whatconstitutestherealinlawwhendrivenbythe past when the traffic between the real and the fantasticbecomesunfairtothedeadanddangeroustothelivingSlavelaw reliedonfictionsof invisible taint andproperty rights inhumanbeingscriminallawoncivildeathandahostofotherapparitionalconstructsandpropertyoncejudgedtobeinfestedwithghostswaslegallystigmatized

Specters are very much part of the legal domain Humanmaterialsareremadeandpersonsareundoneinthesanctityofthe courtroomWhether slaves deadbodies criminals ghostdetaineesoranyoneofthemanyspectralentitiesheldinlimbointheno-manrsquos-landssustainedbystatepowertheyallremainsubjecttotheundueinfluencesandoccultrevelationsoflawrsquosrituals

B E N T H A M rsquo S G H O S T S

Ifyouthinkthatyoucanthinkaboutathinginextri-cablyattachedtosomethingelsewithoutthinkingofthethingitisattachedtothenyouhavealegalmind

mdashThomasReedPowell

TothinklegallyistobecapableofdetachingwaysofthinkingfromwhatisbeingthoughtaboutPerhapsthisiswhatthejudgemeant inRuffin v Commonwealth (1871)whenhecautionedthattheBillofRightswhenappliedtoacivillydeadconvictshouldbegivenldquoa reasonableandnota literalconstructionrdquoTothinkinlawmeanstoreasoninaspecialkindofwayandasIseektoshowtheapplicationoflegalrulescouldanddidcre-ateauniverseuntoitselfLawyersmightfindProfessorPowellrsquoschallenge to think analytically sensible and they do quotingPowellrsquoswordsoftenandforallkindsofreasons18Buttooneoutsidetheguildoflawyerstheycallupallkindsofpossibili-tiesWhathappensifoneisconcernedwithprecedentsbutnot

12

Copyrighted Material

H O LY D O G S H E C U B Arsquo S B A R K

withthecontentofprecedentsIsthatsomethinglikethinkingabout the body without the soulArguing against DescartesLockeaskedldquoCantheSoulthinkandnottheManOraManthinkandnotbeconsciousofitrdquo19OrperhapswemightthinkabouttheskinofthedogthatasweshallseeisvaluableinlawwhilethedogitselfcountsasnothingOrthezombiefleshthattakesdirectionsfromsomeoneelseemptyofmindwillaffectbutfiercelyembodiedOrthebodyfedkeptwarmandclothedinindefinitesolitaryconfinementwhilethemindisignored

TohavealegalmindistoknowBenthamrsquosgreatestfeartoknowthatghostsdonotexistyettorecognizethegrimeffectsof thatunrealityTheldquosubjectof ghostsrdquoBenthamwrote to-wardtheendofhislifeldquohasbeenamongthetormentsofmyliferdquoThoughpersuadedldquoofthenon-existenceofthesesourcesof terrorrdquohewrotewhenhewent tosleepldquoinadarkroomrdquotheyldquoobtrudethemselvesrdquoandheremainedplaguedbyvisita-tions of ghosts and specters all through his life It is perhapssuch ambiguous if persistent illusoriness thatMelville graspsintheldquocolorlessall-colorrdquoofthewhaleMoby-Dickwhenhewritesaboutthemarinerrsquosdreadofitswhitenessldquotheshroudedphantomof thewhitenedwaters ishorrible tohimasa realghostrdquo20

Asearlyas1764whilehewasstillastudentatOxfordBen-thamheardWilliamBlackstonersquosVinerianlecturesonEnglishlawThepublicationbetween1765and1769oftheCommen-taries on the Laws of England based on these lectures rousedBenthamtofuryagainsttheldquogothictanglerdquoofthecommonlawthe veryldquofictions and circuitiesrdquo that Blackstone had praisedThoughBlackstonerecognizedthatsuchldquoarbitraryfictionsandexpedientsrdquo are ldquotroublesomerdquo he insisted that they are ldquonotdangerousrdquo

WeinheritanoldGothiccastleerectedinthedaysofchivalrybutfittedupforamoderninhabitantThemoatedrampartstheembattled towers and the trophied halls are magnificent andvenerablebutuselessTheinferiorapartmentsnowconverted

13

Copyrighted Material

C H A P T E R O N E

intoroomsofconveniencearecheerfulandcommodiousthoughtheirapproachesarewindinganddifficult

BenthammusthavefoundinBlackstonersquosgenialwordschime-rasmoremaleficentthanhischildhoodphantasmsmanifesta-tionsfromaworldofthedeadBenthamrsquospreoccupationwithghostsinspiredallofhiswritingonlawEarlydreadbecamelife-longobsessionasBenthamfoughtagainstthecommonlawmdashldquoathingmerelyimaginaryanassemblageoffictitiousregula-tionsfeignedaftertheimagesoftheserealonesthatcomposetheStatuteLawrdquoFarfrombeingimmaterialthesefictionsnotonlyfedontherealitiesofstatutesbutoncesoembodiedtheyhadrealeffectstheldquodominionoftheoneandthefewrdquoinsteadofldquothegreatesthappinessofthegreatestnumberrdquo21

So whenever Bentham thought about the terrible force ofghostsintheirunrealityheragedagainstlegalfictionsandtheobscurelanguagethatsupportstheirexistenceHerehefollowedLockeincondemningtheldquoperpetualabuseofwordsrdquoThoughunreal legalfictionsworkwonderson theordinary throwinginto doubt even quotidian mattersldquoA fiction of law may bedefinedawillfulfalsehoodrdquoBenthamexplainedldquohavingforitsobject the stealing legislative power by and for hands whichdurstnotorcouldnotopenlyclaimitandbutforthedelusionthusproducedcouldnotexerciseitrdquoTheldquoword-magicrdquooflegalfictionremainsldquoafalseassertionoftheprivilegedkindrdquomadebythoseinpowertowieldambiguousevenspectaculareffectsAndldquothoughacknowledged tobe falserdquo thefiction isldquoat thesametimearguedfromandacteduponasiftruerdquo22

GhoststerrifiedBenthampreciselybecausetheydonotexistThemoreenergyheputintorefutingtheirexistencethemoreintensebecamehisfearofthemFollowingSlavojŽižekrsquosac-countoftheghostlyldquoassomethingradicallyotherrdquoMiranBo-žovicremindsusofthemodeofthinkingthatledtothefeintofthepanopticonldquoInBenthamrsquoselaborateontologyghostsmdashaswellashobgoblinsvampiresthedeviletcmdashareclassifiedaslsquofabulousmaleficentbeingsrsquoormorepreciselyimaginarynon-

14

Copyrighted Material

H O LY D O G S H E C U B Arsquo S B A R K

entitiesrdquoIftheywerereally evilmdashandBožovicgivestheexampleofldquoviciousdogsrdquomdashifghostswereasldquomalefi centrdquoasdogsbitingandtearingandgrindingtheywouldnotfrightenasmuchaswhenweknowthemtobeunreal ldquoWemightevensayrdquoBožovicaddsldquothatthemostunbearablethingwouldbetosucceedinrefutingtheexistenceofghostsrdquo23

InBenthamrsquos critique thehistoryof thecommon lawwasevidenceofaworldgonespectralwithlawsandlanguageob-scuredbyldquothepestilentialbreathofFictionrdquoEventheideaofalegalrightwasnothingmorethanamystifyingruseBenthamalsocriticizedthedemonicldquometaphysicsrdquooftheFrenchDeclara-tionoftheRightsofManandtheCitizenin1789inwordsthatanticipateArendtrsquosconfrontationwithitsvexingparadoxesitsintransigentabstractionsldquoWordsmdashwordswithoutameaningmdashorwithameaningtooflatlyfalsetobemaintainedbyanybodyLooktotheletteryoufindnonsensemdashlookbeyondtheletteryoufindnothingrdquo24

Yetthisnothing asBenthamknewhadinitsveryemptinesspowertodemoralizepeopletoworkrealchangesontheirlivesWhatBenthamcalledthisldquodarkspotrdquoofmendaciousvacuitycanbestbeunderstoodbythinkingabouttheterrorheexperiencedasachildinhisroomatnightorevenoutsidewhereservantsmadeldquoeveryspotrdquothehabitatofspectersItwasalwaysaques-tionofthepowerfulovertheweakstoriestolddefinitionspliedandlanguagemadeobscuretoroutcertaintycreatefearsecureobedienceHerealizedthatsuchinventivenesswasverymuchapartofgovernancethatmakingterrorwasactuallyaveryeasywaytokeepthemultitudesquiteliterallyinthedark

D O G S A N D G H O S T S

HowlingthroughtheshadowsatHecatersquoscrossroadssittingatPontiusPilatersquosfeetsnarlingatJesuscrucifiedoraccompany-ingthesoulsofthedeadtotheothersidedogsinhabitbothdivineanddemonicrealmsLikeghostsdogsareenigmasSospeaksNietzschersquosZarathustrahauntedbyhisownthoughts

15

Copyrighted Material

C H A P T E R O N E

ThensuddenlyIheardadoghowl nearbyHad I ever heard a dog howl like this My thoughts raced

backYesWhenIwasachildinmymostdistantchildhoodmdashthendidIhearadoghowllikethisAndIsawittoobris-

tlingitsheaduptremblinginthestillestmidnightwhenevendogsbelieveinghosts25

GhostslikedogsaredrawntothefamiliartheeverydayevenastheytendtowardtheparanormalandsupernaturalTheyap-pearasifsomewherebetweentherealandsupernaturalreturn-ingasanightmarewhitephantomasilentshadeorheavywithfleshoverripeandinneedInthemeetingoftheactualandtheimaginaryghostsanddogsbeardownontheworldofsocialrela-tionsandmoralityDogsandghostsconstantlycrossboundariesvisitwhattheycovetedmostinlifecountingontheheavinessofthingstogivethempleasuretomakethemgrieveUltimatelynomatterhowmuchtheysuggesttheimpalpableortranscen-dentghostsalwayscomeinbodiesTheyneverobeythecom-mandtobewispsofairsomekindofsteamwetinthenightorvoicesonthewind

Letus takedogsandghostsasentry into thatplacewherecreaturesbothhumanandnonhumanareoutsidecommunityonthebordersoftheknownldquobeyondthepaleofcivilizationaspacehauntedbyexiledcriminalstheinsanerealandmythicalbeastsrdquo26Ritualsofbanishmentarecrucialtocleansingandpu-rifyingaplaceofhumanholinessormorepreciselytodisposingofthestigmatizedoutsidethebodypoliticItisinmyththatwefindthehistoryofritualsthatinflictdeathanddehumanizationmdashandthemeansbywhichtheendtolifeandlossofaffiliationbecomeoneAntoinetteinJeanRhysrsquosWide Sargasso Sea warnedldquoTherearealwaystwodeathstherealoneandtheonepeopleknowaboutrdquo27Whetherweconsiderpublicritualsofphysicaldeath or secret practices of psychic elimination dogs figureubiquitouslyDogsappearasdemonsdeadspiritsaspersonsbewitchedorthingsleftbehindInallpartsoftheworldandthroughouthistorytheyarecastasspectralpacksofwhitedogs

16

Copyrighted Material

C H A P T E R O N E

intoroomsofconveniencearecheerfulandcommodiousthoughtheirapproachesarewindinganddifficult

BenthammusthavefoundinBlackstonersquosgenialwordschime-rasmoremaleficentthanhischildhoodphantasmsmanifesta-tionsfromaworldofthedeadBenthamrsquospreoccupationwithghostsinspiredallofhiswritingonlawEarlydreadbecamelife-longobsessionasBenthamfoughtagainstthecommonlawmdashldquoathingmerelyimaginaryanassemblageoffictitiousregula-tionsfeignedaftertheimagesoftheserealonesthatcomposetheStatuteLawrdquoFarfrombeingimmaterialthesefictionsnotonlyfedontherealitiesofstatutesbutoncesoembodiedtheyhadrealeffectstheldquodominionoftheoneandthefewrdquoinsteadofldquothegreatesthappinessofthegreatestnumberrdquo21

So whenever Bentham thought about the terrible force ofghostsintheirunrealityheragedagainstlegalfictionsandtheobscurelanguagethatsupportstheirexistenceHerehefollowedLockeincondemningtheldquoperpetualabuseofwordsrdquoThoughunreal legalfictionsworkwonderson theordinary throwinginto doubt even quotidian mattersldquoA fiction of law may bedefinedawillfulfalsehoodrdquoBenthamexplainedldquohavingforitsobject the stealing legislative power by and for hands whichdurstnotorcouldnotopenlyclaimitandbutforthedelusionthusproducedcouldnotexerciseitrdquoTheldquoword-magicrdquooflegalfictionremainsldquoafalseassertionoftheprivilegedkindrdquomadebythoseinpowertowieldambiguousevenspectaculareffectsAndldquothoughacknowledged tobe falserdquo thefiction isldquoat thesametimearguedfromandacteduponasiftruerdquo22

GhoststerrifiedBenthampreciselybecausetheydonotexistThemoreenergyheputintorefutingtheirexistencethemoreintensebecamehisfearofthemFollowingSlavojŽižekrsquosac-countoftheghostlyldquoassomethingradicallyotherrdquoMiranBo-žovicremindsusofthemodeofthinkingthatledtothefeintofthepanopticonldquoInBenthamrsquoselaborateontologyghostsmdashaswellashobgoblinsvampiresthedeviletcmdashareclassifiedaslsquofabulousmaleficentbeingsrsquoormorepreciselyimaginarynon-

14

Copyrighted Material

H O LY D O G S H E C U B Arsquo S B A R K

entitiesrdquoIftheywerereally evilmdashandBožovicgivestheexampleofldquoviciousdogsrdquomdashifghostswereasldquomalefi centrdquoasdogsbitingandtearingandgrindingtheywouldnotfrightenasmuchaswhenweknowthemtobeunreal ldquoWemightevensayrdquoBožovicaddsldquothatthemostunbearablethingwouldbetosucceedinrefutingtheexistenceofghostsrdquo23

InBenthamrsquos critique thehistoryof thecommon lawwasevidenceofaworldgonespectralwithlawsandlanguageob-scuredbyldquothepestilentialbreathofFictionrdquoEventheideaofalegalrightwasnothingmorethanamystifyingruseBenthamalsocriticizedthedemonicldquometaphysicsrdquooftheFrenchDeclara-tionoftheRightsofManandtheCitizenin1789inwordsthatanticipateArendtrsquosconfrontationwithitsvexingparadoxesitsintransigentabstractionsldquoWordsmdashwordswithoutameaningmdashorwithameaningtooflatlyfalsetobemaintainedbyanybodyLooktotheletteryoufindnonsensemdashlookbeyondtheletteryoufindnothingrdquo24

Yetthisnothing asBenthamknewhadinitsveryemptinesspowertodemoralizepeopletoworkrealchangesontheirlivesWhatBenthamcalledthisldquodarkspotrdquoofmendaciousvacuitycanbestbeunderstoodbythinkingabouttheterrorheexperiencedasachildinhisroomatnightorevenoutsidewhereservantsmadeldquoeveryspotrdquothehabitatofspectersItwasalwaysaques-tionofthepowerfulovertheweakstoriestolddefinitionspliedandlanguagemadeobscuretoroutcertaintycreatefearsecureobedienceHerealizedthatsuchinventivenesswasverymuchapartofgovernancethatmakingterrorwasactuallyaveryeasywaytokeepthemultitudesquiteliterallyinthedark

D O G S A N D G H O S T S

HowlingthroughtheshadowsatHecatersquoscrossroadssittingatPontiusPilatersquosfeetsnarlingatJesuscrucifiedoraccompany-ingthesoulsofthedeadtotheothersidedogsinhabitbothdivineanddemonicrealmsLikeghostsdogsareenigmasSospeaksNietzschersquosZarathustrahauntedbyhisownthoughts

15

Copyrighted Material

C H A P T E R O N E

ThensuddenlyIheardadoghowl nearbyHad I ever heard a dog howl like this My thoughts raced

backYesWhenIwasachildinmymostdistantchildhoodmdashthendidIhearadoghowllikethisAndIsawittoobris-

tlingitsheaduptremblinginthestillestmidnightwhenevendogsbelieveinghosts25

GhostslikedogsaredrawntothefamiliartheeverydayevenastheytendtowardtheparanormalandsupernaturalTheyap-pearasifsomewherebetweentherealandsupernaturalreturn-ingasanightmarewhitephantomasilentshadeorheavywithfleshoverripeandinneedInthemeetingoftheactualandtheimaginaryghostsanddogsbeardownontheworldofsocialrela-tionsandmoralityDogsandghostsconstantlycrossboundariesvisitwhattheycovetedmostinlifecountingontheheavinessofthingstogivethempleasuretomakethemgrieveUltimatelynomatterhowmuchtheysuggesttheimpalpableortranscen-dentghostsalwayscomeinbodiesTheyneverobeythecom-mandtobewispsofairsomekindofsteamwetinthenightorvoicesonthewind

Letus takedogsandghostsasentry into thatplacewherecreaturesbothhumanandnonhumanareoutsidecommunityonthebordersoftheknownldquobeyondthepaleofcivilizationaspacehauntedbyexiledcriminalstheinsanerealandmythicalbeastsrdquo26Ritualsofbanishmentarecrucialtocleansingandpu-rifyingaplaceofhumanholinessormorepreciselytodisposingofthestigmatizedoutsidethebodypoliticItisinmyththatwefindthehistoryofritualsthatinflictdeathanddehumanizationmdashandthemeansbywhichtheendtolifeandlossofaffiliationbecomeoneAntoinetteinJeanRhysrsquosWide Sargasso Sea warnedldquoTherearealwaystwodeathstherealoneandtheonepeopleknowaboutrdquo27Whetherweconsiderpublicritualsofphysicaldeath or secret practices of psychic elimination dogs figureubiquitouslyDogsappearasdemonsdeadspiritsaspersonsbewitchedorthingsleftbehindInallpartsoftheworldandthroughouthistorytheyarecastasspectralpacksofwhitedogs

16

Copyrighted Material

H O LY D O G S H E C U B Arsquo S B A R K

entitiesrdquoIftheywerereally evilmdashandBožovicgivestheexampleofldquoviciousdogsrdquomdashifghostswereasldquomalefi centrdquoasdogsbitingandtearingandgrindingtheywouldnotfrightenasmuchaswhenweknowthemtobeunreal ldquoWemightevensayrdquoBožovicaddsldquothatthemostunbearablethingwouldbetosucceedinrefutingtheexistenceofghostsrdquo23

InBenthamrsquos critique thehistoryof thecommon lawwasevidenceofaworldgonespectralwithlawsandlanguageob-scuredbyldquothepestilentialbreathofFictionrdquoEventheideaofalegalrightwasnothingmorethanamystifyingruseBenthamalsocriticizedthedemonicldquometaphysicsrdquooftheFrenchDeclara-tionoftheRightsofManandtheCitizenin1789inwordsthatanticipateArendtrsquosconfrontationwithitsvexingparadoxesitsintransigentabstractionsldquoWordsmdashwordswithoutameaningmdashorwithameaningtooflatlyfalsetobemaintainedbyanybodyLooktotheletteryoufindnonsensemdashlookbeyondtheletteryoufindnothingrdquo24

Yetthisnothing asBenthamknewhadinitsveryemptinesspowertodemoralizepeopletoworkrealchangesontheirlivesWhatBenthamcalledthisldquodarkspotrdquoofmendaciousvacuitycanbestbeunderstoodbythinkingabouttheterrorheexperiencedasachildinhisroomatnightorevenoutsidewhereservantsmadeldquoeveryspotrdquothehabitatofspectersItwasalwaysaques-tionofthepowerfulovertheweakstoriestolddefinitionspliedandlanguagemadeobscuretoroutcertaintycreatefearsecureobedienceHerealizedthatsuchinventivenesswasverymuchapartofgovernancethatmakingterrorwasactuallyaveryeasywaytokeepthemultitudesquiteliterallyinthedark

D O G S A N D G H O S T S

HowlingthroughtheshadowsatHecatersquoscrossroadssittingatPontiusPilatersquosfeetsnarlingatJesuscrucifiedoraccompany-ingthesoulsofthedeadtotheothersidedogsinhabitbothdivineanddemonicrealmsLikeghostsdogsareenigmasSospeaksNietzschersquosZarathustrahauntedbyhisownthoughts

15

Copyrighted Material

C H A P T E R O N E

ThensuddenlyIheardadoghowl nearbyHad I ever heard a dog howl like this My thoughts raced

backYesWhenIwasachildinmymostdistantchildhoodmdashthendidIhearadoghowllikethisAndIsawittoobris-

tlingitsheaduptremblinginthestillestmidnightwhenevendogsbelieveinghosts25

GhostslikedogsaredrawntothefamiliartheeverydayevenastheytendtowardtheparanormalandsupernaturalTheyap-pearasifsomewherebetweentherealandsupernaturalreturn-ingasanightmarewhitephantomasilentshadeorheavywithfleshoverripeandinneedInthemeetingoftheactualandtheimaginaryghostsanddogsbeardownontheworldofsocialrela-tionsandmoralityDogsandghostsconstantlycrossboundariesvisitwhattheycovetedmostinlifecountingontheheavinessofthingstogivethempleasuretomakethemgrieveUltimatelynomatterhowmuchtheysuggesttheimpalpableortranscen-dentghostsalwayscomeinbodiesTheyneverobeythecom-mandtobewispsofairsomekindofsteamwetinthenightorvoicesonthewind

Letus takedogsandghostsasentry into thatplacewherecreaturesbothhumanandnonhumanareoutsidecommunityonthebordersoftheknownldquobeyondthepaleofcivilizationaspacehauntedbyexiledcriminalstheinsanerealandmythicalbeastsrdquo26Ritualsofbanishmentarecrucialtocleansingandpu-rifyingaplaceofhumanholinessormorepreciselytodisposingofthestigmatizedoutsidethebodypoliticItisinmyththatwefindthehistoryofritualsthatinflictdeathanddehumanizationmdashandthemeansbywhichtheendtolifeandlossofaffiliationbecomeoneAntoinetteinJeanRhysrsquosWide Sargasso Sea warnedldquoTherearealwaystwodeathstherealoneandtheonepeopleknowaboutrdquo27Whetherweconsiderpublicritualsofphysicaldeath or secret practices of psychic elimination dogs figureubiquitouslyDogsappearasdemonsdeadspiritsaspersonsbewitchedorthingsleftbehindInallpartsoftheworldandthroughouthistorytheyarecastasspectralpacksofwhitedogs

16

Copyrighted Material

C H A P T E R O N E

ThensuddenlyIheardadoghowl nearbyHad I ever heard a dog howl like this My thoughts raced

backYesWhenIwasachildinmymostdistantchildhoodmdashthendidIhearadoghowllikethisAndIsawittoobris-

tlingitsheaduptremblinginthestillestmidnightwhenevendogsbelieveinghosts25

GhostslikedogsaredrawntothefamiliartheeverydayevenastheytendtowardtheparanormalandsupernaturalTheyap-pearasifsomewherebetweentherealandsupernaturalreturn-ingasanightmarewhitephantomasilentshadeorheavywithfleshoverripeandinneedInthemeetingoftheactualandtheimaginaryghostsanddogsbeardownontheworldofsocialrela-tionsandmoralityDogsandghostsconstantlycrossboundariesvisitwhattheycovetedmostinlifecountingontheheavinessofthingstogivethempleasuretomakethemgrieveUltimatelynomatterhowmuchtheysuggesttheimpalpableortranscen-dentghostsalwayscomeinbodiesTheyneverobeythecom-mandtobewispsofairsomekindofsteamwetinthenightorvoicesonthewind

Letus takedogsandghostsasentry into thatplacewherecreaturesbothhumanandnonhumanareoutsidecommunityonthebordersoftheknownldquobeyondthepaleofcivilizationaspacehauntedbyexiledcriminalstheinsanerealandmythicalbeastsrdquo26Ritualsofbanishmentarecrucialtocleansingandpu-rifyingaplaceofhumanholinessormorepreciselytodisposingofthestigmatizedoutsidethebodypoliticItisinmyththatwefindthehistoryofritualsthatinflictdeathanddehumanizationmdashandthemeansbywhichtheendtolifeandlossofaffiliationbecomeoneAntoinetteinJeanRhysrsquosWide Sargasso Sea warnedldquoTherearealwaystwodeathstherealoneandtheonepeopleknowaboutrdquo27Whetherweconsiderpublicritualsofphysicaldeath or secret practices of psychic elimination dogs figureubiquitouslyDogsappearasdemonsdeadspiritsaspersonsbewitchedorthingsleftbehindInallpartsoftheworldandthroughouthistorytheyarecastasspectralpacksofwhitedogs

16

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H O LY D O G S H E C U B Arsquo S B A R K

hell-houndsheath-houndsthegabbleratchetsorGabrielhoundsthered-eyeddog-headedgatekeeperstotherealmsofthedeadwhether understood as the religious or the legal recesses ofpunishment

WhatgivesdogstheiruniquecapacitytohauntThehistoryofthespectrallikethatofthesacredisfoundmostsurelyinthetrashbinsof societyWhat ismostdamaged tornandrottenbecomesthestuffofspirituallifeAndthetransformationintro-duceschangesinourdefinitionofspiritandbodyThisappar-entoppositionmdashbetweenspiritandbodymdashisconfoundedinthestoryofHecubawhichItakeaspreambletotheshape-shiftingandundoingofstatusthatarethefocusofthisbookChangedintoadogatoncemystifiedandhistoricizedghostlyandcor-poreal shebringsus to the interstices ofhumanand animalpersonandgodlivinganddead28

Laying bare the irreducible link between ghost stories andthepropertiesofdeathordislocationHecubadefiestheconso-lationsoftranscendenceInOvidrsquosMetamorphosesafterbeingstonedforhervengeanceonPolymnestorwhokilledhersonPolydorosforgoldandjewelsHecubaappearschangedintoaroaminghaunthowlingintheThracianfields

TheThraciansatthesightof[Polymnestorrsquos]distressbeganmdashwithstonesandlancesmdashtoattacktheTrojanwomenButshetriedtocatchthosestoneswithahoarsehowlshesnappedherteethHerjawscouldonlybarkthoughsetforspeechAndonecanstillfindintheCherronesusthisplacetheShe-houndrsquosMoundorKynos semathenameitgainedfromHecubarsquossadchangeAndthenforlongthroughallthefieldsofThracerememberinghermanygriefsshehowled

(13565ndash75)

Ovidunderstandsthecurseofever-rememberedlossfornotonlydoeshisHecubabarklikeadogbutshehowlsintoeternityInearlierversionsofthestoryasinEuripidesrsquoHecubainsteadof

17

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C H A P T E R O N E

hauntingthelivingshedivesintotheseaanddisappearsAfterhersufferingshergriefandindignitiesdeprivedofherhusbandPriamherchildrenandhercityshelearnsofherownendTheblindedbleedingPolymnestorhiseyesgoneandthefleshofhiseyesocketsgougedoutbytheldquolucklessrdquoHecubaforetellshertransformationintoadogwithldquofieryeyesrdquoherdeathwhensheleapsfromtheshiprsquosmastandvanishesintheseaAllthatremains after shedies isher tombon theChersonesewhichbears the wordsldquoGrave of the wretched hound a mark formarinersrdquo29

Thoughthesearebothwell-knownaccountsofHecubarsquosfateIturntotheamplestifnotthemostenigmaticofHecubarsquosap-pearances Lycophronrsquos Alexandra variously dated sometimeinthethirdorsecondcenturyBCThoughtheauthorisoftenassumedtobeLycophronofChalcisapoetoftheAlexandriancourt at the time of Callimachus the real author remains amysteryhisbirthplacenameandoccupationarestilldebatedWhatweknowisthatthisAlexandrianpoetcraftedaremark-ableamalgamofHomericechoesmythicreturnsfromTroyandotherarchaicandclassicalsourcesintoacompressedfracturedlearnedandallusivelyricWiththeghostsofthedeadbeforehimLycophron retrieves ahistorydisfiguredandobliteratedThepoetcoinsneologismssunderswordorderandsyntaxinalanguageasclashingasthehumanandnonhumananimalstheterriblespiritsthatcrowdintoCassandrarsquosvisiononthedayofParisrsquosdepartureforGreece30

OutofthemouthoftheTrojanCassandralockedawaybyPriaminwhatRobertGravessurmisesisldquoabee-hivetombrdquocometheldquolastnotesofherSiren-songrdquoCassandrarsquospropheciesaboutTroyrsquosruinarereportedtoanunbelievingPriambythewomanguardianwhocaresforherWithherldquomazyriddlingutterancerdquocometwoportraitsofHecubathatdeepenthequeenrsquosstoryastheyrevealherunfoldingidentitiesasmothervictimpredatordogghostWhatthesemetamorphoseshaveincommonisase-cretpactwiththenonvisionaryLycophrongathersthesimplestmostforsakenthingsandworksthemupintofiguresasterrible

18

Copyrighted Material

C H A P T E R O N E

hauntingthelivingshedivesintotheseaanddisappearsAfterhersufferingshergriefandindignitiesdeprivedofherhusbandPriamherchildrenandhercityshelearnsofherownendTheblindedbleedingPolymnestorhiseyesgoneandthefleshofhiseyesocketsgougedoutbytheldquolucklessrdquoHecubaforetellshertransformationintoadogwithldquofieryeyesrdquoherdeathwhensheleapsfromtheshiprsquosmastandvanishesintheseaAllthatremains after shedies isher tombon theChersonesewhichbears the wordsldquoGrave of the wretched hound a mark formarinersrdquo29

Thoughthesearebothwell-knownaccountsofHecubarsquosfateIturntotheamplestifnotthemostenigmaticofHecubarsquosap-pearances Lycophronrsquos Alexandra variously dated sometimeinthethirdorsecondcenturyBCThoughtheauthorisoftenassumedtobeLycophronofChalcisapoetoftheAlexandriancourt at the time of Callimachus the real author remains amysteryhisbirthplacenameandoccupationarestilldebatedWhatweknowisthatthisAlexandrianpoetcraftedaremark-ableamalgamofHomericechoesmythicreturnsfromTroyandotherarchaicandclassicalsourcesintoacompressedfracturedlearnedandallusivelyricWiththeghostsofthedeadbeforehimLycophron retrieves ahistorydisfiguredandobliteratedThepoetcoinsneologismssunderswordorderandsyntaxinalanguageasclashingasthehumanandnonhumananimalstheterriblespiritsthatcrowdintoCassandrarsquosvisiononthedayofParisrsquosdepartureforGreece30

OutofthemouthoftheTrojanCassandralockedawaybyPriaminwhatRobertGravessurmisesisldquoabee-hivetombrdquocometheldquolastnotesofherSiren-songrdquoCassandrarsquospropheciesaboutTroyrsquosruinarereportedtoanunbelievingPriambythewomanguardianwhocaresforherWithherldquomazyriddlingutterancerdquocometwoportraitsofHecubathatdeepenthequeenrsquosstoryastheyrevealherunfoldingidentitiesasmothervictimpredatordogghostWhatthesemetamorphoseshaveincommonisase-cretpactwiththenonvisionaryLycophrongathersthesimplestmostforsakenthingsandworksthemupintofiguresasterrible

18

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H O LY D O G S H E C U B Arsquo S B A R K

astheyareambiguousTherecurringmetamorphosescasttheirspellintheverytwistsandturnsoftheiambictrimeterlinesInastrikingpassagetheldquogrief-worndogrdquoturnsintolioncaptiveandthenintotheverystonesthatshoweruponheronthecoastofThraceThestonesbecomearobeandtheninturntheblackskinofthespectralMaerathedogattendantuponHecatethegoddessoftheunderworld

AndthydoomIlamentthougrief-worndogOnethatsameearthwhichbareheropeningwideShallswallowutterlyinyawningdepthsAssheseesdirefulruincloseathandTherebyherforebearrsquosgrovewhereconcubineWhowedinsecretnowliesjoinedindeathWithherownoffspringereitsuckedthebreastAndereherlimbswerebathedhertravailpastAndtheeshallleadtocruelbridal-feastAndwedding-sacrificesIphisrsquosonGrimlionusinghisfiercemotherrsquosritesSlittingherthroatintoavesseldeepThesnakedreadbutcherofthewreath-crownedcowShallsmiteherwithCandaonrsquosthrice-ownedswordAndslayforwolvestheopeningsacrificeWhiletheeagedcaptiveonthehollowshoreStonedpubliclybytheDolonicanfolkEmbitteredbythycursesandabuseArobeshallcoverwroughtofshoweringstonesWhenMaerarsquosduskyformthoushaltassume31

(315ndash34)

Thethicketofcompetingembodimentssustains this ritualofpainedrecoveryThepoemworksbestandperhapssolelyinthezonesofstressanduncertaintybetweentheweightofmemoryandthecallofimaginationItsclusterofcontradictionsdem-onstrateswhatamindmightlooklikepushedtothelimitsofrecognitionLycophronomitstheplot-drivendetailsofPolym-nestorrsquosmurderofPolydorosforgoldandHecubarsquossubsequent

19

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C H A P T E R O N E

revengesopowerfullyrenderedbyEuripides Instead thoughHecubaappearsonlytwicehertransformationincharactercap-turestheexperienceofthetomblessdead

Enmeshedinasequenceoflosseseachharsherthanthelastshe suffers a gradualdeepeningof servility that gnawsatherpersonalidentityuntilthereremainsnothingbuttheimageandsoundofhergriefthebarkandthebodyofadogIsHecubarsquosmutationintoadogadegradingtransformationpunishmentforherbloody revengeonPolymnestorCertainlynothereTheshadeandshapeofthenonhumanrealizetheexcessesofhergriefandtheabsolutenessofherexilefromallshehelddearherbanishment fromcivil andpolitical life awidowa slavewithnofreedomnofamilynopossessions

ThereissomethingworsethanenslavementthehauntoftheselfmadeextinctturnedloosetoroamoutsideofsocietybereftofintimacyandaffiliationAfterthesemutationsaselfstilllin-gersaremindertothosewhohavedamagedherthehauntofherhowlsinthenightLycophronrsquosCassandramournswhileprophesying her motherrsquos ldquofamerdquo as an attendant hound ofHecatetheldquoTriformedrdquoworshippedinThraceandhonoredatPheraeinThessalyldquoMotherpoormotherNotunknownalsoShall be thy fame forBrimoPersesrsquo child Triformed shallmaketheeanattendanthoundWithnightlyhowlsthesemor-talstoaffrightrdquo(1174ndash77)

In Lycophron there are ghosts upon ghosts not surprisingsinceweare intherealmofthedeadbuttheyarealways inleague with matter thickened with physicality Lycophronrsquospoetic cruces involve conversionsbetweenmatter and spiritinglorious brutes and rarified spirits By forcing proximity onthosecategoriesmostrigorouslyseparatedheprobesthedis-placementofthehumanelementfromthesebeingsYetwhatremains after transfiguration is the self thathangson to con-sciousnessthepsyche thatERDoddsdescribesasldquotheseatofcourageofpassionofpityofanxietyofanimalappetiterdquonotprimarilyldquotheseatofreasonrdquo

20

Copyrighted Material

H O LY D O G S H E C U B Arsquo S B A R K

Asinlaterspiritorpossessionreligionssuchasmedievalsor-cery or modern practices of vodou there is no room for themetaphysical or transcendent Instead there is a looseningofboundaries a radical materiality as Dodds writesldquoThelsquosoulrsquowasnoreluctantprisonerofthebodyitwasthelifeorspiritofthebodyandperfectlyathomethererdquoThosewhopracticewhatiscalledldquowitchcraftrdquoorldquosuperstitionrdquoacknowledgesuchpotentdivisionsasthatbetweenrationalagentsanddumbanimalsbuttheystrivetomakeindistinctthetermsofdistinctionHecubarsquosdogremindsusthatthishierarchyisdubiousitsstatusambigu-ousWhatmattersmostinhermetamorphosesistheformthatvictimizationtakesthebanishmenttormentandlossequallyshared by all personalities whether animals humans gods orghosts32

T H I N K I N G W I T H Z O M B I E S

InthefigureofthezombieacadaverinappearanceonlyvodouextendsthefictionofcivildeathThezombiethoughdead isaliveThedead-alivezombieinldquofleshandbonesrdquosurvivesastheremnantoflossanddispossessionThesemacabredepersonal-izedentitiesarelefttowanderaloneorforcedtoworktogethershornoftendernesscomradeshipconsciousnessInMyal (1988)theJamaicansociologistpoetandnovelistErnaBrodberregardsldquospiritthieveryrdquoasthedeadreanimatedbytheforceofmasteryHoweverthisrelationofdominationisconfiguredmemoriesofservitudearetransposedintoanewidiom

People are separated from theparts of themselves thatmakethemthinkandtheyareleftasfleshonlyFleshthattakesdirec-tionsfromsomeoneThethinkingpartofthemisalsousedasnefariously ldquoimmorallyrdquomightbeabetterword In thosesocietiestherearepersonstrainedtodotheseparationandinser-tionThenameunderwhichtheygowouldbetranslatedasspiritthieves33

21

Copyrighted Material

H O LY D O G S H E C U B Arsquo S B A R K

Asinlaterspiritorpossessionreligionssuchasmedievalsor-cery or modern practices of vodou there is no room for themetaphysical or transcendent Instead there is a looseningofboundaries a radical materiality as Dodds writesldquoThelsquosoulrsquowasnoreluctantprisonerofthebodyitwasthelifeorspiritofthebodyandperfectlyathomethererdquoThosewhopracticewhatiscalledldquowitchcraftrdquoorldquosuperstitionrdquoacknowledgesuchpotentdivisionsasthatbetweenrationalagentsanddumbanimalsbuttheystrivetomakeindistinctthetermsofdistinctionHecubarsquosdogremindsusthatthishierarchyisdubiousitsstatusambigu-ousWhatmattersmostinhermetamorphosesistheformthatvictimizationtakesthebanishmenttormentandlossequallyshared by all personalities whether animals humans gods orghosts32

T H I N K I N G W I T H Z O M B I E S

InthefigureofthezombieacadaverinappearanceonlyvodouextendsthefictionofcivildeathThezombiethoughdead isaliveThedead-alivezombieinldquofleshandbonesrdquosurvivesastheremnantoflossanddispossessionThesemacabredepersonal-izedentitiesarelefttowanderaloneorforcedtoworktogethershornoftendernesscomradeshipconsciousnessInMyal (1988)theJamaicansociologistpoetandnovelistErnaBrodberregardsldquospiritthieveryrdquoasthedeadreanimatedbytheforceofmasteryHoweverthisrelationofdominationisconfiguredmemoriesofservitudearetransposedintoanewidiom

People are separated from theparts of themselves thatmakethemthinkandtheyareleftasfleshonlyFleshthattakesdirec-tionsfromsomeoneThethinkingpartofthemisalsousedasnefariously ldquoimmorallyrdquomightbeabetterword In thosesocietiestherearepersonstrainedtodotheseparationandinser-tionThenameunderwhichtheygowouldbetranslatedasspiritthieves33

21

Copyrighted Material

C H A P T E R O N E

SpiritthieveryrecallsthedebilitationofslaverythatmakesoneforeversubjecttothedirectionofanotherIntheviolentexclu-sionfromcommunityandkinfolkthezombiecodetakesshapeIfsociallythezombierepresentstheselfundonetheseriatimdiminutionsofdignityandlifethenwecanusetheimageinordertounderstandhowthingslegallyemptiedofpersonhoodcanberepossessedorturnedintovesselsforwhatMaryMidg-leyhasdescribedasldquohighlysensitivesocialbeingsrdquointelligentaware34

Zombiesareunnaturalpersonsorputmorepreciselyfear-somelytactileifspectrallyrealbeingsTheyhavebeenexcom-municatedandanathematizedas retribution forviolating thelawsoftheirsocietyYeteverycaseofzombificationdemandsthatwequestionthenatureofthistransgressionThezombiephenomenon only makes sense in terms of the features of awell-definedpersonalitywhoreapspunishmentforambitiongreeddisrespectorslanderWemustanchorthisceremonialofdisgraceincultureandlegalhistoryratherthannatureFarfromsupernaturalzombiesareexperiencedashighlycontextualizedspectaclesofalienationintendedtoinspirehorrorinthemindsofthecommunity

InourldquosecularrdquoldquoprogressiverdquotimescomprehensiveformsofexpiationfunctionasthebackdroptocivilcommunityRitualsofexpulsionremainintacttointimidateandcontrolWhogetsbannedandexpelledsothatwecanliveinreasonableconsensusLetusnamethemnowCriminalsSecurityThreatsTerroristsEnemyAliens Illegal ImmigrantsMigrantContaminantsUn-lawfulEnemyAlienCombatantsGhostDetainees35Thesearenewordersoflifetheyhoveroutsidetheboundsofthecivilbeyond the simpledichotomiesof reasonandunreason legalandillegalThereceptaclesfortheseoutcastsareinthewilder-nessthedesertorislandscutofffromsocioculturalnetworksofdailylifeThemanagementofrubbishwhatwemightcallfecalmotivesdrawsdistinctionsbetweenthefreeandtheboundthefamiliarandthestrangeAndthisongoingglobalcultivationof

22

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H O LY D O G S H E C U B Arsquo S B A R K

humanwastebrazeninitsdisplaymakesoursenseofinclusionarareandprecariousprivilege

IsthereanafterlifeofostracismWhatremainsoncecivilhasbeenreplacedwithpenallifeLegaldefinitionsareinstrumentalincondemningtheunthinkablechimeratocircumstanceswheredogmatic divisions between humans and monsters no longercountAssuggestiveintheirhauntaswereuncleanspiritstheobjectsofoppressivestatemagicarealsoraciallymarkedmak-ingwhatAveryGordoncallsldquothedisposabilityofapermanentlyconfined liferdquo count in a blatantly phenomenal and thereforepervasivelyspectralmanner36ThoughalivetheyareincessantlydyinginnewwaysSituatedbeyondtheterrorofmortalitytheseexiledpersonsworkpowerfullyonthemindsoftheas-yetin-cludedWecannotignorethethreatofthismaledictionThestatebringsuptodatetheonceformidableanathemaofthechurchEcclesiasticalexorcismsurvivesintheburlesqueofjusticethatcontinues tofindways to eliminate the accusedwithoutdueprocesswithouttrialwithoutevidencewithoutevenacharge

A G O AT F O R A Z A Z E L

ldquoAndIwillsetmyfaceagainstyourdquoInLeviticusthefaceofGodordersretributionforturningawayfromthelawBesidesburntofferings of bullocks sheep goats turtledoves there remainsthecentralsacrificeoftheDayofAtonementthesignoftruerepentance the goat set apart forAzazel In the days of theTempletheHighPriestwentbeforetwogoatsalikeandequalTwolotsmadeofgoldwerethrowntogetherintoacasketfromwhichhedrewonelotassacrificeonthealtarfortheldquoNameMostHighandonefortherockysteeprdquoreleasedintothewil-derness toAzazel Putting both hands on the goat he criedaloudldquoAsin-offeringuntotheLordrdquoAfterconfessingthesinsof the people of Israel he sent this goat with a scarlet filletarounditsjowlsandthecongregationrsquossinsonitsheadoutbe-yondthecityrsquosgatesandintothedesert

23

Copyrighted Material

C H A P T E R O N E

AndAaronshall laybothhishandsupontheheadof the livegoatandconfessoverhimalltheiniquitiesofthechildrenofIsraelandalltheirtransgressionsinalltheirsinsputtingthemupontheheadofthegoatandshallsendhimawaybythehandofafitmanintothewilderness(Leviticus1621)

AnimalssentdefiledeitheroutintothewildernessorovercliffsarecrucialtocleansingandpurifyingaplaceofholinessLadenwithsinsthegoatisaterriblypollutingforceSometimesthegoattriedtoreturntothecamptheplaceithadknownforsolongInordertopreventthistheappointedpersonpushedthegoat intoan inaccessibleareabelievedtobe theplaceofevilspiritsordemonsThisisnotsomuchasacrificeasagoingawaySomething is being sent away for some kind of death some-wherebeyondtheborders

Legaldirectivesjoininthesolemnenactmentofsocialstruc-tureasmoraldiscriminationcedestoobligatorypracticeLetusturntoanothersiteofcontaminationalsoinLeviticusNottheclifforwildernessforthebanishedgoatbutthefungalhouseIfpossessedofldquotheplagueofleprosyrdquoitmustbeemptiedandin-spectedbyapriest

AndheshalllookontheplagueandbeholdiftheplaguebeinthewallsofthehousewithhollowstrakesgreenishorreddishwhichinsightarelowerthanthewallThenthepriestshallgooutofthehousetothedoorofthehouseandshutupthehousesevendaysAndthepriestshallcomeagaintheseventhdayandshalllookandbeholdiftheplaguebespreadinthewallsofthehouseThenthepriestshallcommandthattheytakeawaythestonesinwhichtheplagueisandtheyshallcastthemintoanuncleanplacewithoutthecity(Leviticus1437ndash40)

Intheprocessofeliminatingimpuritythetextportraysinfec-tiouspropertyasifpersonallyresponsiblegrotesquelycursedWhatismoststrikinginthisliturgyofdiseasepriestlyinspec-tionandremovalistheformulaicrepetitionsHowarduousmustbetheritualofpurificationsevereinitsordersofdetectionits

24

Copyrighted Material

H O LY D O G S H E C U B Arsquo S B A R K

suspicionofrecurrentdefilementWhetherhouseorhumantheseverityisunchanging

What is the design of the juridical no-manrsquos-land that hasbeencreatedwhenlawloosensthelinkbetweenhumanbeingsanimalsdevilsothernoxiouscreaturesorinfernalvexationsIhavecastthistrafficandtransplantationofpersonsacrossvastsocial temporal and spatial distances in the drama of ritualsthatarebothpenalandreligiousThestuffofspirituallifebe-comes the rawmaterialof legal authorityMyunderstandingoflawthussummonspersonsasessentialtoitssustenanceldquoNoperson itself the law lives inpersonsrdquo37 If Imayhazard thecomparisonthelawalsolivesoffpersonsasdospiritsinsearchofbodiestoinhabitinmuchthesamewayastheHaitianlwathespiritsorgodsofvodoucanmanifestthemselvesonlyinthecorporealenvelopeInlineamentsbothhumanandnonhumanspiritsexperiencelifeandunfoldtheirpotential

ThedramaofvodoupermitshumanpractitionerstotakeonrolestofindnewlymalleableidentitiesInthesamewaylegalpersonshavenofixeddefinitionbutinsteadtakeonchangingcapacitiesvariouslygrantedbythestatesuchaslegalrightsfree-doms duties and obligations Jurisprudence responds to theldquocravingfortherationalrdquowhenconfrontedwithwhatAlexan-derNeacutekaacutemregardsasthenecessitiesofldquosocialcontrolandvalu-ationrdquoTobeacceptablecommunalemotionsmustbeendowedwithaldquorationalformrdquoThisincarnationisgrantedthroughldquotheartofthelawrdquoNowhereistheartificeascompellingasinthecreationoflegalpersonsentitiesthathavenothingtodowithldquohumanpersonalityrdquoThesepersonsldquowhetherhumanbeingoranythingelserdquoprovetheabsolutenessoflawrsquospowerldquothosetowhomthelawattributessuchalegalpersonalitypossessitbyforceofthelawandnotbynaturerdquoInthispreternaturalperfor-manceldquolegalrightsandenjoymentsrdquocanbegiventoldquospiritsandgodsdevilsandidolsaswellastotheunbornandthedeadrdquo38

Highlycontext-specificsituationshelpustodramatizethelimitsofhumanpersonalitytointimatelawrsquosusurpationofna-tureTheyformthebackgroundtothedonningandrelinquishing

25

Copyrighted Material

C H A P T E R O N E

ofmasksSodiverseareestimatesofwhatcountsforpersonsthatwewoulddowelltocomparetheirchangingcomportmentwiththatofshape-shifterssheddingandtakingondifferentskinsTheloupgaroux ofmedievalFranceorthesan pwegravel andsan po (hairlessorskinless)incontemporaryHaititheblood-suckersandvampiresoftheWestIndiesandthesouthernUnitedStatesremain fully conscious selves evenas they shed skin takeonnewskinandassumenonhumanformInsearchofhumancom-panythesebloodthirstyspiritstakeontheappearanceofdogscowsorgoats

S P I R I T UA L L E P E R S

ldquoI swear Ihavenever seen suchadevilishwayof thinkingastheyseemtohaverdquoShakerAameralegalresidentoftheUnitedKingdomcapturedinAfghanistaninDecember2001wroteinhisdiaryduringhisJuly2005hungerstrikeatGuantaacutenamo39

Theoccultsorceryofhumancrueltybringsusclosertothinkingaboutthemeaningofmonsters

SomeofthosecalledterroristsintheearlydaysofGuantaacute-namo were labeled as threats and imprisoned without beingaccusedof anyoffenseObjects of contagion theyhad tobesealedoffTheyweresubjectedtoanextrajudicialexhibitionofcontainmentthatprecededtheirdetentionabuseandtortureTransmogrified into the chrysalis of confinement they weredruggedshackledhandandfootmadetowearearcuffsandmittenshoodedandblindfoldedbyblacked-outgogglesThesedistancingeffectsoncefixedontheirbodiesshrinkthespaceofisolationintoasecondskinTheplaceofincapacitationandtheincapacitatedpersoncollapseintoone

ldquoIaminmytombrdquowroteAbdelliFeghoulinsolitaryconfine-mentatCamp6IntheostensiblymorelenientCamp5andCampEchoprisonersareconfinedtosteelandconcreteisola-tioncellsforatleasttwentyhoursadaywithvirtuallynohumancontact40Letus remember that theapproximately200menwhoremainimprisonedinthisoffshorepenareheldindefi-

26

Copyrighted Material

H O LY D O G S H E C U B Arsquo S B A R K

suspicionofrecurrentdefilementWhetherhouseorhumantheseverityisunchanging

What is the design of the juridical no-manrsquos-land that hasbeencreatedwhenlawloosensthelinkbetweenhumanbeingsanimalsdevilsothernoxiouscreaturesorinfernalvexationsIhavecastthistrafficandtransplantationofpersonsacrossvastsocial temporal and spatial distances in the drama of ritualsthatarebothpenalandreligiousThestuffofspirituallifebe-comes the rawmaterialof legal authorityMyunderstandingoflawthussummonspersonsasessentialtoitssustenanceldquoNoperson itself the law lives inpersonsrdquo37 If Imayhazard thecomparisonthelawalsolivesoffpersonsasdospiritsinsearchofbodiestoinhabitinmuchthesamewayastheHaitianlwathespiritsorgodsofvodoucanmanifestthemselvesonlyinthecorporealenvelopeInlineamentsbothhumanandnonhumanspiritsexperiencelifeandunfoldtheirpotential

ThedramaofvodoupermitshumanpractitionerstotakeonrolestofindnewlymalleableidentitiesInthesamewaylegalpersonshavenofixeddefinitionbutinsteadtakeonchangingcapacitiesvariouslygrantedbythestatesuchaslegalrightsfree-doms duties and obligations Jurisprudence responds to theldquocravingfortherationalrdquowhenconfrontedwithwhatAlexan-derNeacutekaacutemregardsasthenecessitiesofldquosocialcontrolandvalu-ationrdquoTobeacceptablecommunalemotionsmustbeendowedwithaldquorationalformrdquoThisincarnationisgrantedthroughldquotheartofthelawrdquoNowhereistheartificeascompellingasinthecreationoflegalpersonsentitiesthathavenothingtodowithldquohumanpersonalityrdquoThesepersonsldquowhetherhumanbeingoranythingelserdquoprovetheabsolutenessoflawrsquospowerldquothosetowhomthelawattributessuchalegalpersonalitypossessitbyforceofthelawandnotbynaturerdquoInthispreternaturalperfor-manceldquolegalrightsandenjoymentsrdquocanbegiventoldquospiritsandgodsdevilsandidolsaswellastotheunbornandthedeadrdquo38

Highlycontext-specificsituationshelpustodramatizethelimitsofhumanpersonalitytointimatelawrsquosusurpationofna-tureTheyformthebackgroundtothedonningandrelinquishing

25

Copyrighted Material

C H A P T E R O N E

ofmasksSodiverseareestimatesofwhatcountsforpersonsthatwewoulddowelltocomparetheirchangingcomportmentwiththatofshape-shifterssheddingandtakingondifferentskinsTheloupgaroux ofmedievalFranceorthesan pwegravel andsan po (hairlessorskinless)incontemporaryHaititheblood-suckersandvampiresoftheWestIndiesandthesouthernUnitedStatesremain fully conscious selves evenas they shed skin takeonnewskinandassumenonhumanformInsearchofhumancom-panythesebloodthirstyspiritstakeontheappearanceofdogscowsorgoats

S P I R I T UA L L E P E R S

ldquoI swear Ihavenever seen suchadevilishwayof thinkingastheyseemtohaverdquoShakerAameralegalresidentoftheUnitedKingdomcapturedinAfghanistaninDecember2001wroteinhisdiaryduringhisJuly2005hungerstrikeatGuantaacutenamo39

Theoccultsorceryofhumancrueltybringsusclosertothinkingaboutthemeaningofmonsters

SomeofthosecalledterroristsintheearlydaysofGuantaacute-namo were labeled as threats and imprisoned without beingaccusedof anyoffenseObjects of contagion theyhad tobesealedoffTheyweresubjectedtoanextrajudicialexhibitionofcontainmentthatprecededtheirdetentionabuseandtortureTransmogrified into the chrysalis of confinement they weredruggedshackledhandandfootmadetowearearcuffsandmittenshoodedandblindfoldedbyblacked-outgogglesThesedistancingeffectsoncefixedontheirbodiesshrinkthespaceofisolationintoasecondskinTheplaceofincapacitationandtheincapacitatedpersoncollapseintoone

ldquoIaminmytombrdquowroteAbdelliFeghoulinsolitaryconfine-mentatCamp6IntheostensiblymorelenientCamp5andCampEchoprisonersareconfinedtosteelandconcreteisola-tioncellsforatleasttwentyhoursadaywithvirtuallynohumancontact40Letus remember that theapproximately200menwhoremainimprisonedinthisoffshorepenareheldindefi-

26

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C H A P T E R O N E

ofmasksSodiverseareestimatesofwhatcountsforpersonsthatwewoulddowelltocomparetheirchangingcomportmentwiththatofshape-shifterssheddingandtakingondifferentskinsTheloupgaroux ofmedievalFranceorthesan pwegravel andsan po (hairlessorskinless)incontemporaryHaititheblood-suckersandvampiresoftheWestIndiesandthesouthernUnitedStatesremain fully conscious selves evenas they shed skin takeonnewskinandassumenonhumanformInsearchofhumancom-panythesebloodthirstyspiritstakeontheappearanceofdogscowsorgoats

S P I R I T UA L L E P E R S

ldquoI swear Ihavenever seen suchadevilishwayof thinkingastheyseemtohaverdquoShakerAameralegalresidentoftheUnitedKingdomcapturedinAfghanistaninDecember2001wroteinhisdiaryduringhisJuly2005hungerstrikeatGuantaacutenamo39

Theoccultsorceryofhumancrueltybringsusclosertothinkingaboutthemeaningofmonsters

SomeofthosecalledterroristsintheearlydaysofGuantaacute-namo were labeled as threats and imprisoned without beingaccusedof anyoffenseObjects of contagion theyhad tobesealedoffTheyweresubjectedtoanextrajudicialexhibitionofcontainmentthatprecededtheirdetentionabuseandtortureTransmogrified into the chrysalis of confinement they weredruggedshackledhandandfootmadetowearearcuffsandmittenshoodedandblindfoldedbyblacked-outgogglesThesedistancingeffectsoncefixedontheirbodiesshrinkthespaceofisolationintoasecondskinTheplaceofincapacitationandtheincapacitatedpersoncollapseintoone

ldquoIaminmytombrdquowroteAbdelliFeghoulinsolitaryconfine-mentatCamp6IntheostensiblymorelenientCamp5andCampEchoprisonersareconfinedtosteelandconcreteisola-tioncellsforatleasttwentyhoursadaywithvirtuallynohumancontact40Letus remember that theapproximately200menwhoremainimprisonedinthisoffshorepenareheldindefi-

26

Copyrighted Material

H O LY D O G S H E C U B Arsquo S B A R K

anceofinternationallawInmanycasesthevictimsofacknowl-edgedkidnappingofillegaltransferacrossinternationalbordersby the US government they are not guilty or alleged to beguilty of any crimesThey have not been charged accusedtriedorfoundguiltyofanythingatallNotevenastherec-ordsshowmdashatleastatthetimeoftheirseizureandtorturemdashofhostilitytotheUnitedStates(whichisnotletusrememberacrime)

Since2002 in response tocollectivepunishment thecap-tiveshaveinitiatedaseriesofindividualandcoordinatedmasssuicideattemptsclassifiedbythemilitaryasldquomanipulativeself-injuriousbehaviorrdquoThehungerstrikesbearwitnesstoimagesofincapacitationandtherealitiesofprotestInDecember2005the number of hunger strikes dropped after mobile restraintchairs (calledldquotorture chairsrdquo by prisoners) were introducedCliveStaffordSmithalawyeratGuantaacutenamowritesthatthedeviceldquolookedratherlikeanupdatedelectricchairrdquoAswellasstrapsfortheprisonerrsquosarmsandlegsldquotheGuantaacutenamochairshadbeenmodifiedtoaddtwoadditionalstrapsfortheheadandthechestrdquo41

The largest hunger strike in which 131 prisoners partici-patedendedin2006withtwice-dailyforce-feedingthroughnosetubesaprocessthatinvolvesexcruciatingpainbleedingandvomitingTalkingtoagroupofreportersaboutthechairtowhichprisonerswerestrappedduringtheinsertionofthefeedingtubesGeneralJohnCraddocktheheadoftheUnitedStatesSouthernCommandassuredthemldquoItrsquosnot likelsquoTheChairrsquo itrsquos a chair Itrsquos pretty comfortable itrsquos not abusiverdquoExpandingonhisnotionofnonabusivecomfortheexplainedthathis soldiersgave thosehecalledldquodetaineesrdquoachoiceofcolors for feeding tubesmdashyellow clear and beigemdashaddingldquoTheyliketheyellowrdquo42

Sevenyears after thefirst captives arrivedatGuantaacutenamoPresidentBarackObamaonJanuary222009issuedaseriesofexecutiveordersconcerningGuantaacutenamoandUSpoliciesonexecutivedetentionBesidesrequiringtheclosureoftheprison

27

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C H A P T E R O N E

withinayearheorderedthatconditionsofconfinementtherebereviewedbythesecretaryofdefensewhoappointedateamofinvestigatorsTheldquoReviewofDepartmentCompliancewithPresidentrsquosExecutiveOrderonDetaineeConditionsofCon-finementrdquopresentedtoObamabyAdmiralPatrickWWalshinFebruary2009describesthepracticeofldquoenteralfeedingrdquoinchillingdetail InthesectioncalledldquoMedicalEthicsmdashMedicalTreatmentofHungerStrikersrdquotheDepartmentofDefensere-viewteampresentscoercionascare

ThefeedingprocessthereportarguescomportswithCom-monArticle3oftheGenevaConventionAsurprisingconclu-sionsincethatarticleprohibitsamongotherthingsldquooutragesuponpersonaldignityinparticularhumiliatinganddegradingtreatmentrdquoSystematicdebasementtakesontheappearanceofemergencypreservationAphysicianisaidedbyldquoafeedingnurseandoneormoreCorpsmenrdquowithldquoperiodicconsultationsfromanutritionistrdquoWhenprisonersrefusetocomeoutoftheircellstheldquoJointDetentionGroupCommanderrdquoauthorizesaldquoForcedCellExtractionrdquo(FCE)ThefeedingisthendonebyFCEteamsinldquofeedingchairsrdquowithldquoheadrestraintsrdquoAfootnoteexplainsthattheldquonasogastrictubeusedissize10or12Frenchwhichwouldbe35ndash45millimetersindiameter(slightlylargerindiameterthanapieceofcookedspaghettibutlessthanapencileraser)rdquo43

AameroneoftheleadersofthehungerstrikethatbeganinJuly2005askedStaffordSmithtotakedownhiswordswhenhewasinisolationinthesupermaxunitCampEcho

IamdyinghereeverydayMentallyandphysicallythisishap-peningtoallofusWehavebeenignoredlockedupinthemid-dleof thisocean for fouryearsRather thanhumiliatemyselfhavingtobegforwaterhereinCampEchoIhavedecidedtohurryupaprocessthatisgoingtohappenanyway44

ThequestioniswhethercaptiveswhohavechosentodiewhetherasprotestorinresponsetounendurablesufferingshouldhavetheirdecisionsrespectedorshouldbeldquosavedrdquobyforceInotherwordsshouldthedeliberateconsciousdecisiontodiebystar-

28

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C H A P T E R O N E

withinayearheorderedthatconditionsofconfinementtherebereviewedbythesecretaryofdefensewhoappointedateamofinvestigatorsTheldquoReviewofDepartmentCompliancewithPresidentrsquosExecutiveOrderonDetaineeConditionsofCon-finementrdquopresentedtoObamabyAdmiralPatrickWWalshinFebruary2009describesthepracticeofldquoenteralfeedingrdquoinchillingdetail InthesectioncalledldquoMedicalEthicsmdashMedicalTreatmentofHungerStrikersrdquotheDepartmentofDefensere-viewteampresentscoercionascare

ThefeedingprocessthereportarguescomportswithCom-monArticle3oftheGenevaConventionAsurprisingconclu-sionsincethatarticleprohibitsamongotherthingsldquooutragesuponpersonaldignityinparticularhumiliatinganddegradingtreatmentrdquoSystematicdebasementtakesontheappearanceofemergencypreservationAphysicianisaidedbyldquoafeedingnurseandoneormoreCorpsmenrdquowithldquoperiodicconsultationsfromanutritionistrdquoWhenprisonersrefusetocomeoutoftheircellstheldquoJointDetentionGroupCommanderrdquoauthorizesaldquoForcedCellExtractionrdquo(FCE)ThefeedingisthendonebyFCEteamsinldquofeedingchairsrdquowithldquoheadrestraintsrdquoAfootnoteexplainsthattheldquonasogastrictubeusedissize10or12Frenchwhichwouldbe35ndash45millimetersindiameter(slightlylargerindiameterthanapieceofcookedspaghettibutlessthanapencileraser)rdquo43

AameroneoftheleadersofthehungerstrikethatbeganinJuly2005askedStaffordSmithtotakedownhiswordswhenhewasinisolationinthesupermaxunitCampEcho

IamdyinghereeverydayMentallyandphysicallythisishap-peningtoallofusWehavebeenignoredlockedupinthemid-dleof thisocean for fouryearsRather thanhumiliatemyselfhavingtobegforwaterhereinCampEchoIhavedecidedtohurryupaprocessthatisgoingtohappenanyway44

ThequestioniswhethercaptiveswhohavechosentodiewhetherasprotestorinresponsetounendurablesufferingshouldhavetheirdecisionsrespectedorshouldbeldquosavedrdquobyforceInotherwordsshouldthedeliberateconsciousdecisiontodiebystar-

28

Copyrighted Material

H O LY D O G S H E C U B Arsquo S B A R K

vationbedulyregardedorshouldthemilitaryguardspreventfullyawareandresponsibleindividualsfromkillingthemselvesinthiswayDowefindourethicsbyforcingcaptivesheldindefianceoflawtoliveinadyingsituationbyrefusingthemanescapefromasituationworsethandeathwheresuchathingaslife acquiresnewmeaningInthiscontexttosafeguardhealthistomakepersonsaccepttheirpassagefromsubjecttoobjectThe transition is involuntaryunlike thewilled riposteof sui-cideThepersonhoodofthemenatGuantaacutenamoremainsboundupwith their right todecidehowtheymaintainandexpresstheirgroupidentitywhentheywarrantrecognitionwhattheydowiththeirbodiesNotallowingpersonstochoosedeathasanescapefromamurderousfatedependsontheskilledmanipula-tionofgrimtechnologies

OnFebruary232009onthesamedayasthepresentationoftheDepartmentofDefensereviewtheCenterforConstitu-tionalRightsissueditsownreportonconditionsatGuantaacutenamorevealingthatpurportedlyhumanemethodsthereconsistedofsensoryand sleepdeprivation in thecamps aswell as force-feedingdescribedbytheeuphemismldquointensifiedassistedfeed-ingrdquoSabinWillettanattorneyforGuantaacutenamoprisonersde-scribedtheexperiencesofoneofhisclientsldquo[Y]outrytalkingtoamanwhoonlywantstoseethesunYouwillneverforgettheexperiencerdquo45

Humaninformbutdeadinspiritthesecaptiveentitiesliveoninourmindspreservedinamberlikethecorpsekeptincel-lophaneinthatsingularlyunrealphotofromAbuGhraibDe-pendentonspectaclefortheirforcemdashwhethertheproliferationofeffigiesfromAbuGhraibandGuantaacutenamoorthehauntoftheunseeninlethalinjectionroomsorsupermaxcellsintheUnitedStatesmdashthesehintsofsomethingworsethandeathpro-duceanewsignoftheselfThesedeadarenot improvedbydying

WhathappenstothebodiesofthedeadalreadyentombedatGuantaacutenamoLosttotheirfamilieswhenlivingtheyremainabandoned indeathdeprivedof thequickburial required in

29

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C H A P T E R O N E

Islamicpractice46 InthehauntofGuantaacutenamothespiritsofpersonsliedeadThisnightmarishdispensationputsusonthecuspofabeliefinghostsThenewghoststoryisreallyaveryoldoneandasalwaystheseghostsareinleaguewithmatterDe-scribingthefateofldquooutlawsconvictedfelonsandexcommuni-catesrdquowhotakeontheshapeofwolvesFrederickPollockandFredericWilliamMaitlandfocusonldquooutlawryrdquoasldquothelawrsquosul-timateweaponrdquoThedecreeofoutlawrytheyexplainoccurrednotatatimeofnolawbutldquowhenlawwasweakanditsweak-nesswasdisplayedbyareadyrecoursetooutlawryrdquo

HewhobreaksthelawhasgonetowarwiththecommunitythecommunitygoestowarwithhimItistherightanddutyofeverymantopursuehimtoravagehislandtoburnhishousetohunthimdownlikeawildbeastandslayhimforawildbeastheisnotmerelyishealdquofriendlessmanrdquoheisawolfEveninthethirteenthcenturywhenoutlawryhadlostitsexterminatingchar-acterandhadbecomeanengineforcompellingthecontuma-cioustoabidethejudgmentofthecourtsthisoldstateofthingswasnotforgottenCaput gerat lupinum [Lethimbeartheheadofawolf]mdashinthesewordsthecourtsdecreedoutlawry47

Hasoutlawrymdashorforthatmatter lawmdashlost itsexterminatingcharacterNotifweconsidertheObamaadministrationrsquosre-visedplanfortrialbymilitarycommissionThethreemenac-cusedofplanning911outlawswhodesirethetransfigurationofmartyrdomwillhavetheirchanceTheycanbeexterminatedwithout a genuine hearing In a very unusual juridical turntheseprisonerswillbeallowedtopleadguiltythuseliminatingtheneedforldquoproofrdquowhichmightnecessarilyincludeacknowl-edgmentoftortureThussecuritysecretswillnotbedivulgednorbrutalinterrogationtechniques48

LynnWhiteoncewroteldquoToknowthesubliminalmindofasocietyonemuststudythesourcesofitsliturgiesofinflictingdeathrdquo49ThetensionsbetweenarchaicandmodernarefitfulandrapidlyevaporatingOnceconsideredlegalaberrationstheruinsofanirrationalpastarereconfiguredasacceptableOnMay21

30

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C H A P T E R O N E

Islamicpractice46 InthehauntofGuantaacutenamothespiritsofpersonsliedeadThisnightmarishdispensationputsusonthecuspofabeliefinghostsThenewghoststoryisreallyaveryoldoneandasalwaystheseghostsareinleaguewithmatterDe-scribingthefateofldquooutlawsconvictedfelonsandexcommuni-catesrdquowhotakeontheshapeofwolvesFrederickPollockandFredericWilliamMaitlandfocusonldquooutlawryrdquoasldquothelawrsquosul-timateweaponrdquoThedecreeofoutlawrytheyexplainoccurrednotatatimeofnolawbutldquowhenlawwasweakanditsweak-nesswasdisplayedbyareadyrecoursetooutlawryrdquo

HewhobreaksthelawhasgonetowarwiththecommunitythecommunitygoestowarwithhimItistherightanddutyofeverymantopursuehimtoravagehislandtoburnhishousetohunthimdownlikeawildbeastandslayhimforawildbeastheisnotmerelyishealdquofriendlessmanrdquoheisawolfEveninthethirteenthcenturywhenoutlawryhadlostitsexterminatingchar-acterandhadbecomeanengineforcompellingthecontuma-cioustoabidethejudgmentofthecourtsthisoldstateofthingswasnotforgottenCaput gerat lupinum [Lethimbeartheheadofawolf]mdashinthesewordsthecourtsdecreedoutlawry47

Hasoutlawrymdashorforthatmatter lawmdashlost itsexterminatingcharacterNotifweconsidertheObamaadministrationrsquosre-visedplanfortrialbymilitarycommissionThethreemenac-cusedofplanning911outlawswhodesirethetransfigurationofmartyrdomwillhavetheirchanceTheycanbeexterminatedwithout a genuine hearing In a very unusual juridical turntheseprisonerswillbeallowedtopleadguiltythuseliminatingtheneedforldquoproofrdquowhichmightnecessarilyincludeacknowl-edgmentoftortureThussecuritysecretswillnotbedivulgednorbrutalinterrogationtechniques48

LynnWhiteoncewroteldquoToknowthesubliminalmindofasocietyonemuststudythesourcesofitsliturgiesofinflictingdeathrdquo49ThetensionsbetweenarchaicandmodernarefitfulandrapidlyevaporatingOnceconsideredlegalaberrationstheruinsofanirrationalpastarereconfiguredasacceptableOnMay21

30

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H O LY D O G S H E C U B Arsquo S B A R K

2009Obamaproposedasifanovelideatheprotractedincar-cerationofallegedterroristsInspiteofadmirableintentionshissuggestedldquolegitimatelegalframeworkrdquomdashwhathealsodescribedasldquoanappropriatelegalregimerdquoforpreventivedetentionmdashisvir-tuallyunprecedentedwithinthelawandwhollyunconstitutionalItisnotunprecedentedinactualityItremainsindistinctfromtheworstthoughleast-discussedexcessofGuantaacutenamotheuseofindefiniteisolationaspsychologicaltortureSensorydepriva-tionistheformofdisciplinepreferredbyprisonmanagementNowitisofferedasthesolutiontotheGuantaacutenamodisgraceTheldquorenderingrdquoofprisonersaspackagedgoodsduringdeliverytobelatersealedoffandwarehousedthuspresagedtheirfuture

Bylegitimizingincapacitationwithoutprovencrimesorvio-lations of lawmdashand without trial or even chargemdashPresidentObamaregularizestheanomalousandrationalizessolitarytor-ture He reimagines preventive detention offshore as prolonged detention on the mainland Not as degraded or mendacious aeuphemismperhapsashispredecessorrsquosldquoenhanced interroga-tiontechniquesrdquofortorturebutaeuphemismneverthelessInthe wily magic of changing terminologiesldquoprolonged deten-tionrdquo replaces both ldquoindefinite detentionrdquo and ldquoadministrativesegregationrdquomdashthe latter already an evasive and legally conve-nientrenamingofldquosolitaryconfinementrdquo

Themajorityofprisonersheldinlong-termopen-endedandoftenpermanentsupermaxconfinementintheUnitedStatesarelabeledldquoSecurityThreatGroupsrdquoTheseallegedgangmembersusuallyhavenodisciplinaryinfractionstheyarelockeddownand isolated allegedly for the safety of the rest of the prisonpopulationTheincarcerationofldquodangerousterrorismsuspectsrdquoon our soil without due (or indeed any) process of law alsotradesonthepromiseofsecurityThenewgloballogicofpun-ishmentoffersdemocracywhiledispensingwithjudgeandjuryIt alsoensures thebroaderestablishmentof superndashmaximumsecurityunits50

WhattheUnitedNationsConventionAgainstTortureaswellashumanrightsgroupssuchasHumanRightsWatchAmnesty

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C H A P T E R O N E

International and others have long singled out as torturoussolitary-confinementpractices in theUnitedStatesandwhatGuantaacutenamodetaineeshave revealed tobe themosthorrificpartof theirdetentionmdashits systematicpsychiccannibalismmdashPresidentObamapresentsaswhateveryreasonableAmericanshouldadmitasworthyofourheritageldquothepowerofourmostfundamentalvaluesrdquoHeasksustobearinmindldquoNobodyhaseverescapedfromoneofourfederalsupermaxprisonswhichholdhundredsofconvictedterroristsrdquoHisproposalhesaysre-sultedfromapproachingldquodifficultquestionswithhonestyandcareandadoseof commonsenserdquoWhendidcommonsensebecomesodifficulthonestysoterrifying51

ldquoAftertwodaysofsolituderdquoJMCoetzeewritesinWaiting for the Barbarians ldquomylipsfeelslackanduselessmyownspeechseemsstrangetomeIbuildmydayunreasonablyaroundthehourswhenIamfedIguzzlemyfoodlikeadogAbestiallifeisturningmeintoabeastrdquo52ButthisdogthoughreducedtoappetitealoneatleasthasthechancetoknowtodesireThereareotherkindsofmetamorphosesthenefariousproductionofanotherkindofpersonmdashwhethercanineorghostlyhumanrelicorspiritmdashdrainedofself-identityforeveranomalouscondemnedasextraneoustocivilsocietyexcludedfrombelonging

Theincapacitatedtheasyetimproperlyapprehendedlegalperson is sufficientlyunreal tomakeclaimsonourhabitsofthought Ifmore-or-less tangibleobjectscanbeeitherldquoprop-ertyrdquoorldquopersonsrdquointheeyesofthelawwhatweconsidersub-jectsoflegalrightsanddutiescanalsobestrippedoftheseat-tributesWeareobligedtoconsiderthecreationofaspeciesofdepersonalizedpersonsDeprivedof rights todueprocess tobodily integrityor life thesecreatures remainpersons in lawThereasoningnecessarytothisterrainoftheundeadsanctionstheirrationalthereasonableextensionofunspeakabletreatmentintoanunknowablefuture53

Whenlawiscalledupontoascertainaldquorationalrdquobasisforsus-tainingthedominionofthedeadandtheghostlymuchdependsonassumptions thatmostofusclaimtofind intolerableBut

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H O LY D O G S H E C U B Arsquo S B A R K

recent events continue to prove how much we can tolerateHoweasyitisforfeardogmaandterrortoallowustodemon-izeotherstodenythemacommonhumanitytheprotectionofourlawstodounspeakablethingstothemInamorallydis-enchantedworlddailycrueltyandcasualviolenceaccompanythecallforordertheneedforsecurity

Inanageofscientificadvanceswhenldquospare-partrdquomedicineis applied to corpsesor livingbodieswhen theunborn fetusbecomes rights-bearingandgeneticandembryonicchimerasarerealitiesthequestionoflegalpersonhoodcorrespondswithaninscrutableidiomItisperhapsbecauseofthiscohabitationandtheldquomagicalitiesrdquoitallowsthatstatepowerislessopentocriticismIfwitchcraftisldquotheuseofpreternaturalpowerbyoneperson todamageothersrdquo then thepractitionerswho inhabitthe dark world of stigma know how to make law the basisof extralegalityThis sorcery is not overt and the illusionistswhopracticeitrelyonsecrecytoguaranteeitsmalignancyandpredations54

Lifeanddeathpossessionanddemonismaretoasurprisingextentbuttressedby thenormal formsand regularcourseoflawCulturalexpectationsoflegitimatepunishmentnecessarypain and reasonable violence are produced transmitted sus-tainedinalegalidiomOneofthejudgesinBailey v Poindexter (1858)anantebellumcasecentraltomyinquirydeclaredthattotreattheslaveascapableofchoicewastocreateldquoalegalim-possibilityrdquoNowtheUSgovernmentandcourtsarebusyturn-ing living willful sentient believing persons into inanimaterightlessobjectsTheseobjectsaredisfiguredreducedtoorgansthatcanfailandlegallybeputatthethresholdoflifeanddeathwherepainistortureonlyifitcausesdeath55

D O G S rsquo B O D I E S

ThedeaddonotdieTheyhauntthelivingBothfreeandun-freetheundeadstillspeakinthepresentlandscapeofterrorandruinThedogsofhurricaneKatrinacitizensturnedrefugeesin

33

Copyrighted Material

C H A P T E R O N E

theUnitedStatesprisonerswarehousedindefinitelydisappearedghost-detaineestorturedandheldincommunicadoinprolongeddetentionsickcowskickedandproddedinslaughtermdashthera-tionalesandritualsofterrorproliferateButperhapsweneedtothinkmoredeeplyaboutthedyingandthedead

Foralongtimeasweshallseethedogcouldnotbethesub-jectoflarcenyOnlythetakingofskinfromthedogrsquosdeadbodywasafelonyDogsthemostintimateandpersistentfriendsofhumanswerelegallyconsideredasnodifferentintermsofprop-ertyfromhumancorpsesIntheanalogyImakeherebetweenthe dead body of a human andthe living body of a dogIproposethatweconsidernotjustthemetaphysicalviolencebutalsotheliteraldispossessionsomuchapartoflegalreasoningHowfarcanwe take this judgmentofnegatedpersonalityornullifiedpropertyInhisCommentariesBlackstonewritesldquothatnolar-cenycanbecommittedunlesstherebesomepropertyinthethingtakenrdquoandherehegivestheexamplenotofthetheftofadogbutofanenshroudedcorpseldquoThisisthecaseofstealingashrowdoutofagravewhichisthepropertyofthosewhoevertheywerethatburiedthedeceasedbutstealingthecorpseit-selfwhichhasnoowner(thoughamatterofgreatindecency)isnofelonyunlesssomeofthegraveclothsbetakenwith itrdquoThereispropertyinawindingsheetjustasinthehideofadogWhatliesinsidehasparadoxicallylessintrinsicvaluethanwhatismostsuperficialjustskin-deepWhetherlivingordeadthereissomethingthatlinksdogsandhumansdamageddiseasedordeadinAnglo-Americanlaw56

JerryCrunchertheldquoresurrectionistrdquoofDickensrsquosThe Tale of Two CitiesexhumedbodiesandgavethemupfordissectionThecourtruledthathehadnotcommittedlarcenybutamis-demeanorsinceacorpsewasres nulliusitbelongedtonoonenoonehadany right in itTheoriginsof the rulenullifyingpropertyincorpsesareobscureandconfusedAcorpseawaitingburialhasastatusdistinctfrombodiesrottingintheearthorturned intomummiesThenatural decaymakingdust of thecorporealremainsisquiteunlikethelaborexpendedtopreserve

34

Copyrighted Material

H O LY D O G S H E C U B Arsquo S B A R K

themWhenthebodyhasbeenworkedonandbetteredpos-sessedoroccupiedbyanotherrsquoslaborandthusowneditgainslegal recognition In this uncertain tenancy the play of legalreasoningbetweenlivinganddeadbecomesacuriousillogicalprocessA deliberation both casual and terrible it marks theabrupt legal transitionofadeadbodyfromsubjecttoobjectThe preservation of dignity vies with the trashing of junkAmerican courts unlike English recognized the sometimes-gruesomeconsequencesof theclassicnotionofno-property-interest in cadavers and instead granted human remains thestatusofquasi-propertyThusrecognizingtheclaimsandrightsof familymembers thecourtsgavethemtherighttopossessthe corpse for burial and determine the manner in which itwouldbelaidtorest57

TheunlovedunwantedandabandonedarenotalwaysleftaloneSometimestheyarelosttakendiscardedormadereadyforpredationEarlyandlatepre-andpostmodernsomeenti-tiesgetspecialtreatmentwhensubjectedtoprejudiceandir-regularvengeancePossessedphysicallybydevilsmdashhowevertheyareconstruedanewover timemdashorexploitedaszombies theyareturnedintonewhumananimalorotherunspecifiedshapesTheresultsarerealinjuriesmurdersandoftendazzlingtrans-mutationsInthelattercasesocietycreatesthehighlyeffectiveillusionthroughdeferencetolegalformsandusageswhetheraspartofstateritualorasreligiouspractice

Devils enter physically into corpses borrow their bodilyfunctionsRecentthoughtexperimentsaboutdyinganddeathorgantransplantsorpersonsdeadtocognitionmdashsuchasKarenQuinlandescribedasbeinginapermanentvegetativestateandallowedtodiemdashmakeusthinkagainaboutphantasmsofper-sonhoodspiritpossessionandwhatitmeanstobeconsideredintermsoflaw

When reflecting on humans assailed transformed or dis-posedofweturntocatastrophetothedisorderpiledontoani-malsthoughttobeconsciousofwrongdoingandpossessedofintelligenceandpassionIfanimalsweresoendowedwiththe

35

Copyrighted Material

C H A P T E R O N E

ldquospiritualprinciplerdquotheycouldbeblamedandincurretributioninthehereafterYettheimmortalityoftheirsoulswascontrarytothedogmaoftheChristianchurchwhichdependedonhier-archicalestimationinordertovalidatetheprivilegeofthefaith-ful Medieval jurisprudence handily solved the problem byportrayinganimalsasinfestedwithhellpowerpossessedbyde-monsYetsuchdiabolictenancydidnotstopwiththeMiddleAgesTheJesuit fatherGuillaume-HyacintheBougeant inhisAmusement philosophique sur le langage des bestes (1739)bringsdemonologyintotheeighteenthcentury

so the good Catholic becomes an efficient co-worker withGodbymaltreatingbrutesandthusaidingtheAlmightyinpun-ishingthedevilsofwhichtheyarethevisibleandbruisableformsWhateverpainisinflictedisfeltnotbythephysicalorganismbutbytheanimatedspiritItistheembodieddemonthatreallysuffershowlinginthebeatendogandsquealinginthebutch-eredpig

JesuscastsouttheuncleanspiritsinhabitingthemanwhocalledhimselfldquoLegionrdquointhefifthchapteroftheGospelofMarkThespiritsenteragreatherdofswineandtheswinethuspossessedrushdownthecliffsintothesea58

IfthereisaremedyforthebadmagicthedamagesoflawwemusttrytodescribewhatsuchahealingmetamorphosiswouldlooklikeThedreadofthreatandstigmacanbecounteredbyahealingthatisnotsomuchsegregationascoalescenceMutualadaptabilitybecomesthewaytorepossessionThepathtothiscureinvolvesadogawhitedogItisneitherthesacrificialldquosa-credWhiteDogrdquooftheIroquoisldquospotlessrdquoandldquofaithfulrdquoldquothepurestenvoytotheGreatSpiritrdquoasMelvillewroteinMoby-Dicknortheevildogthatnamelessterrorwhosespectralwhiteskincontainsthepersonlostforevertoevilenchantment59In-steadweconfrontastrangelygenialdogwhogainswonderfulascendancyThesereneoutcomewhichwecancallredemptiondependsonaspiritualstatethatremainsboundtothebody

36

Copyrighted Material

H O LY D O G S H E C U B Arsquo S B A R K

themWhenthebodyhasbeenworkedonandbetteredpos-sessedoroccupiedbyanotherrsquoslaborandthusowneditgainslegal recognition In this uncertain tenancy the play of legalreasoningbetweenlivinganddeadbecomesacuriousillogicalprocessA deliberation both casual and terrible it marks theabrupt legal transitionofadeadbodyfromsubjecttoobjectThe preservation of dignity vies with the trashing of junkAmerican courts unlike English recognized the sometimes-gruesomeconsequencesof theclassicnotionofno-property-interest in cadavers and instead granted human remains thestatusofquasi-propertyThusrecognizingtheclaimsandrightsof familymembers thecourtsgavethemtherighttopossessthe corpse for burial and determine the manner in which itwouldbelaidtorest57

TheunlovedunwantedandabandonedarenotalwaysleftaloneSometimestheyarelosttakendiscardedormadereadyforpredationEarlyandlatepre-andpostmodernsomeenti-tiesgetspecialtreatmentwhensubjectedtoprejudiceandir-regularvengeancePossessedphysicallybydevilsmdashhowevertheyareconstruedanewover timemdashorexploitedaszombies theyareturnedintonewhumananimalorotherunspecifiedshapesTheresultsarerealinjuriesmurdersandoftendazzlingtrans-mutationsInthelattercasesocietycreatesthehighlyeffectiveillusionthroughdeferencetolegalformsandusageswhetheraspartofstateritualorasreligiouspractice

Devils enter physically into corpses borrow their bodilyfunctionsRecentthoughtexperimentsaboutdyinganddeathorgantransplantsorpersonsdeadtocognitionmdashsuchasKarenQuinlandescribedasbeinginapermanentvegetativestateandallowedtodiemdashmakeusthinkagainaboutphantasmsofper-sonhoodspiritpossessionandwhatitmeanstobeconsideredintermsoflaw

When reflecting on humans assailed transformed or dis-posedofweturntocatastrophetothedisorderpiledontoani-malsthoughttobeconsciousofwrongdoingandpossessedofintelligenceandpassionIfanimalsweresoendowedwiththe

35

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C H A P T E R O N E

ldquospiritualprinciplerdquotheycouldbeblamedandincurretributioninthehereafterYettheimmortalityoftheirsoulswascontrarytothedogmaoftheChristianchurchwhichdependedonhier-archicalestimationinordertovalidatetheprivilegeofthefaith-ful Medieval jurisprudence handily solved the problem byportrayinganimalsasinfestedwithhellpowerpossessedbyde-monsYetsuchdiabolictenancydidnotstopwiththeMiddleAgesTheJesuit fatherGuillaume-HyacintheBougeant inhisAmusement philosophique sur le langage des bestes (1739)bringsdemonologyintotheeighteenthcentury

so the good Catholic becomes an efficient co-worker withGodbymaltreatingbrutesandthusaidingtheAlmightyinpun-ishingthedevilsofwhichtheyarethevisibleandbruisableformsWhateverpainisinflictedisfeltnotbythephysicalorganismbutbytheanimatedspiritItistheembodieddemonthatreallysuffershowlinginthebeatendogandsquealinginthebutch-eredpig

JesuscastsouttheuncleanspiritsinhabitingthemanwhocalledhimselfldquoLegionrdquointhefifthchapteroftheGospelofMarkThespiritsenteragreatherdofswineandtheswinethuspossessedrushdownthecliffsintothesea58

IfthereisaremedyforthebadmagicthedamagesoflawwemusttrytodescribewhatsuchahealingmetamorphosiswouldlooklikeThedreadofthreatandstigmacanbecounteredbyahealingthatisnotsomuchsegregationascoalescenceMutualadaptabilitybecomesthewaytorepossessionThepathtothiscureinvolvesadogawhitedogItisneitherthesacrificialldquosa-credWhiteDogrdquooftheIroquoisldquospotlessrdquoandldquofaithfulrdquoldquothepurestenvoytotheGreatSpiritrdquoasMelvillewroteinMoby-Dicknortheevildogthatnamelessterrorwhosespectralwhiteskincontainsthepersonlostforevertoevilenchantment59In-steadweconfrontastrangelygenialdogwhogainswonderfulascendancyThesereneoutcomewhichwecancallredemptiondependsonaspiritualstatethatremainsboundtothebody

36

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C H A P T E R O N E

ldquospiritualprinciplerdquotheycouldbeblamedandincurretributioninthehereafterYettheimmortalityoftheirsoulswascontrarytothedogmaoftheChristianchurchwhichdependedonhier-archicalestimationinordertovalidatetheprivilegeofthefaith-ful Medieval jurisprudence handily solved the problem byportrayinganimalsasinfestedwithhellpowerpossessedbyde-monsYetsuchdiabolictenancydidnotstopwiththeMiddleAgesTheJesuit fatherGuillaume-HyacintheBougeant inhisAmusement philosophique sur le langage des bestes (1739)bringsdemonologyintotheeighteenthcentury

so the good Catholic becomes an efficient co-worker withGodbymaltreatingbrutesandthusaidingtheAlmightyinpun-ishingthedevilsofwhichtheyarethevisibleandbruisableformsWhateverpainisinflictedisfeltnotbythephysicalorganismbutbytheanimatedspiritItistheembodieddemonthatreallysuffershowlinginthebeatendogandsquealinginthebutch-eredpig

JesuscastsouttheuncleanspiritsinhabitingthemanwhocalledhimselfldquoLegionrdquointhefifthchapteroftheGospelofMarkThespiritsenteragreatherdofswineandtheswinethuspossessedrushdownthecliffsintothesea58

IfthereisaremedyforthebadmagicthedamagesoflawwemusttrytodescribewhatsuchahealingmetamorphosiswouldlooklikeThedreadofthreatandstigmacanbecounteredbyahealingthatisnotsomuchsegregationascoalescenceMutualadaptabilitybecomesthewaytorepossessionThepathtothiscureinvolvesadogawhitedogItisneitherthesacrificialldquosa-credWhiteDogrdquooftheIroquoisldquospotlessrdquoandldquofaithfulrdquoldquothepurestenvoytotheGreatSpiritrdquoasMelvillewroteinMoby-Dicknortheevildogthatnamelessterrorwhosespectralwhiteskincontainsthepersonlostforevertoevilenchantment59In-steadweconfrontastrangelygenialdogwhogainswonderfulascendancyThesereneoutcomewhichwecancallredemptiondependsonaspiritualstatethatremainsboundtothebody

36

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H O LY D O G S H E C U B Arsquo S B A R K

ApolloniusofTyanaafirst-centuryhealerphilosopheritin-erantpreacherandspiritualadvisermdashwhoavoidedfoodcloth-ingorsacrificethatinvolvedkillinganimalsmdashrivaledJesusofNazarethinhismiraclesandcuresorsothosecondemnedaspagans by later Christians believed In Philostratusrsquos lengthybiographyofApolloniusdatingprobablyfromtheearlythirdcentury ADwe read about thehealingof aboybittenby arabiddoginTarsusThedogmattershereasmuchastheboyCanineandhumanbecomedependentoneontheotherandintheirreciprocityandstunningcross-speciescollaborationwefindanalternativetotheuglyhocus-pocusofJudeo-ChristiandogmainthepromiseofalawthatcarrieswithitthePaulinecovenant written ldquonot on tablets of stone but on tablets ofhumanheartsrdquo(2Corinthians33)60

ForthirtydaysafterbeingbittenbyamaddogayoungboyranaroundonallfoursbarkingandhowlingWhenApolloniusmethimheorderedthattheldquodogresponsibleforallthisrdquoshouldbetrackeddownNoonehadeverseenthedognorhadanyideahowtofinditsincethevictimldquonolongerevenrecognizedhimselfrdquoApolloniustellsDamishisBoswelltoseekoutldquoawhiteshaggysheepdogthesizeofonefromAmphilochia[inNorth-westernGreece]standingbysuch-and-suchafountaintrem-blingbecauseitbothdesiresandfearswaterrdquoldquoBringittomerdquoApollonius saysldquojust say I sent for itrdquoDraggedbyDamis toApolloniusthedoglaydownathisfeetldquoweepinglikeasuppli-antatanaltarrdquoThenremarkablyinsteadoforderingthedemonstodepartApolloniusenactsaritualaspalpableasimmediateasanembrace InvokingthememoryofKingTelephusofMysiawoundedbyAchillesandhealedbythetouchofhisspearApol-lonius givesus an early versionof aldquohair of thedog thatbityourdquothewayoutofharmmdashwhetherdrunkennessormadnessmdashisthroughthethingthathascausedtheharm

Aftermakingit[thedog]eventamerandstrokingitwithhishandhemakestheyouthstandbesidehimwhilehehimself

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heldhimThensothatthecrowdshouldnotmissagreatmir-aclehesaidldquoThesoulofTelephustheMysianhasmigratedintothisboyandtheFatesareplanningthesametreatmentforhimrdquoSo saying he told the dog to lick the bite so that the boyrsquoswoundershouldalsobehishealer

TheboyishealedandcomesbacktohimselfrecognizinghisparentsandfriendsAsIhavenotedApolloniusrsquosattentiontothedogiscrucialHepraystotheriverandtellsthedogtoswimacrosstheCydnusOntheothersidenotintheunderworldasthecrossingmightsuggestbutrebornasiffromafateworsethandeathheregainsconsciousnessofhimselfInwordsthatarebothinstructiveandmovingPhilostratusrecordsthedogrsquosmetamorphosis

WhenithadcrossedtheCydnusitstoodonthebankandletoutabarkwhichdoesnothappenatallwhendogsarerabidanditbentbackitsearsandwaggeditstailrealizingthatithadbeencuredsincewateristheremedyforrabiesifthevictimhasthecouragetodrinkit61

IntheGospelsJesushealsthepossessedbycuringthemofcog-nizanceItisadispossessionascostlyasitisbeneficialThoughcuredoftheirdemonstheylosetheirsingularabilitytorecog-nizehimButApolloniushealsbyreplenishmentabestowalofbountyforbothboyanddogTheboyishealedbutsoisthedogthatbringsthestorytoacloseThedogisrenewedindeedgracedwithsentiencegratitudeandrecognitionnotpenalizedbutpersonalizedforlifenotfordeathButthisisonlyaprom-iseastorytoholdontoasIturnmyattentiontoapastdefinedbythegrievousassertionofindignityadeathsentenceplayedoutinthespheresofecclesiasticalandsecularpower

38

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heldhimThensothatthecrowdshouldnotmissagreatmir-aclehesaidldquoThesoulofTelephustheMysianhasmigratedintothisboyandtheFatesareplanningthesametreatmentforhimrdquoSo saying he told the dog to lick the bite so that the boyrsquoswoundershouldalsobehishealer

TheboyishealedandcomesbacktohimselfrecognizinghisparentsandfriendsAsIhavenotedApolloniusrsquosattentiontothedogiscrucialHepraystotheriverandtellsthedogtoswimacrosstheCydnusOntheothersidenotintheunderworldasthecrossingmightsuggestbutrebornasiffromafateworsethandeathheregainsconsciousnessofhimselfInwordsthatarebothinstructiveandmovingPhilostratusrecordsthedogrsquosmetamorphosis

WhenithadcrossedtheCydnusitstoodonthebankandletoutabarkwhichdoesnothappenatallwhendogsarerabidanditbentbackitsearsandwaggeditstailrealizingthatithadbeencuredsincewateristheremedyforrabiesifthevictimhasthecouragetodrinkit61

IntheGospelsJesushealsthepossessedbycuringthemofcog-nizanceItisadispossessionascostlyasitisbeneficialThoughcuredoftheirdemonstheylosetheirsingularabilitytorecog-nizehimButApolloniushealsbyreplenishmentabestowalofbountyforbothboyanddogTheboyishealedbutsoisthedogthatbringsthestorytoacloseThedogisrenewedindeedgracedwithsentiencegratitudeandrecognitionnotpenalizedbutpersonalizedforlifenotfordeathButthisisonlyaprom-iseastorytoholdontoasIturnmyattentiontoapastdefinedbythegrievousassertionofindignityadeathsentenceplayedoutinthespheresofecclesiasticalandsecularpower

38