The 'Waste' Law

[robinlandseadel at comcast.net]

The most obvious meaning for "The Crying of Lot 49" 
is the auctioning of property. Of course, under dust
 bowl circumstances. . . .

          Section 49. Who may commit Waste.

          Waste can only be committed by a person rightfully in 
          possetion of the property.. Under the early common 
          law only tenants of legal as distinguished from tenants 
          of conventional estates, were liable for waste. But the 
          common law was changed by the statute of Marlbridge. . . .

          . . . .Formerly in England, co-temant or a tenant in 
          common could not be held guilty of waste, but this 
          statute of Westminster II. In the United States 
          co-tenants are liable for waste, either by statute, 
          or independently of statutes.

Pynchon Vs. Stearns is mentioned on page 92 and 95, in the footnotes.

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