In popular governments it often happens that accusations are carried on
in public, and every man is allowed to accuse whomsoever he pleases.
This rendered it necessary to establish proper laws, in order to protect
the innocence of the subject. At Athens, if an accuser had not the fifth
part of the votes on his side, he was obliged to pay a fine of a thousand drachmas.
schines, who accused Ctesiphon, was condemned to pay this fine.
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At Rome, a false accuser was branded with infamy)
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by marking the letter K on his forehead. Guards were also appointed to
watch the accuser, in order to prevent his corrupting either the judges
or the witnesses.
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I have already taken notice of that Athenian and Roman law by which
the party accused was allowed to withdraw before judgment was
pronounced.
