Arborum furtim caesarum
(Concerning Trees Cut Down by Stealth.)
1 Paulus libro nono ad Sabinum. Si furtim arbores caesae sint, et ex lege Aquilia et ex duodecim tabularum dandam actionem Labeo ait: sed Trebatius ita utramque dandam, ut iudex in posteriore deducat id quod ex prima consecutus sit et reliquo condemnet.
1 Paulus, On Sabinus, Book IX. Where trees are cut down by stealth, Labeo says that an action should be granted under the Aquilian Law, as well as under the Law of the Twelve Tables. Trebatius, however, holds that both actions should be granted in such a way that the court, in rendering a decision in the second action, should deduct the amount recovered in the first, and give judgment for the remainder.
2 Gaius libro primo ad legem duodecim tabularum. Sciendum est autem eos, qui arbores et maxime vites ceciderint, etiam tamquam latrones puniri.
2 Gaius, On the Law of the Twelve Tables, Book I. It should be remembered that those who cut down trees, and especially vines, are also punished as thieves.
3 Ulpianus libro quadragensimo secundo ad Sabinum. Vitem arboris appellatione contineri plerique veterum existimaverunt. 1Ederae quoque et harundines arbores non male dicentur. 2Idem de salicteto dicendum est. 3Sed si quis saligneas virgas instituendi salicti causa defixerit haeque, antequam radices coegerint, succidantur aut evellantur, recte Pomponius scripsit non posse agi de arboribus succisis, cum nulla arbor proprie dicatur, quae radicem non conceperit. 4Quod si quis ex seminario, id est stirpitus arborem transtulerit, eam, quamvis nondum comprehenderit terram, arborem tamen videri Pomponius libro nono decimo ad Sabinum probat. 5Ideo ea quoque arbor esse videtur, cuius radices desinent vivere. 5aRadix autem arboris non videtur arboris appellatione contineri, quamvis adhuc terra contineatur: quam sententiam Labeo quoque probat. 6Labeo etiam eam arborem recte dici putat, quae subversa a radicibus etiamnunc reponi potest, aut quae ita translata est, ut poni possit. 7Stirpes oleae arbores esse magis est, sive iam egerunt radices sive nondum. 8Omnium igitur harum arborum, quas enumeravimus, nomine agi poterit.
3 Ulpianus, On Sabinus, Book XLII. The larger number of ancient authorities held that vines were included in the term “trees.” 1Ivy, as well as reeds, are not improperly styled trees. 2The same may be said to apply to willows. 3But when anyone, for the purpose of planting willows, has inserted branches into the ground, and these are cut down or torn up, before they have taken root, Pomponius very properly says that the action for cutting down trees cannot be brought, as that cannot properly be called a tree which has not yet become rooted. 4If anyone removes a tree from a nursery, that is to say, with its roots, although it may not yet have taken hold of the soil, Pomponius, in the Nineteenth Book on Sabinus, says that it should be considered a tree. 5Therefore, that also may be considered a tree whose roots have ceased to live, 5aalthough it still remains in the earth. This opinion is also adopted by Labeo. 6Labeo thinks that a tree can properly be so called which, having been torn out by the roots, cannot be replaced, or which has been removed in such a way that this can be done. 7Olive sprouts should be considered trees, whether they have thrown out roots or not. 8An action, therefore, can be brought on account of all the trees which we have above enumerated.
4 Gaius libro ... ad legem duodecim tabularum. Certe non dubitatur, si adhuc adeo tenerum sit, ut herbae loco sit, non debere arboris numero haberi.
4 Gaius, On the Law of the Twelve Tables. It certainly cannot be doubted that, where a sprout is still so small as to resemble a blade of grass, it should not be included in the number of trees.
5 Paulus libro nono ad Sabinum. Caedere est non solum succidere, sed etiam ferire caedendi causa. cingere est deglabrare. subsecare est subsecuisse: non enim poterat cecidisse intellegi, qui serra secuisset. 1Eius actionis eadem causa est, quae est legis Aquiliae. 2Is, cuius usus fructus est in fundo, hanc actionem non habet: qui autem fundum vectigalem habet, hanc actionem habet, sicut aquae pluviae arcendae actionem et finium regundorum.
5 Paulus, On Sabinus, Book IX. To cut down is not merely to cut, but to cut with the intention of felling; to girdle is to remove the bark; to cut away is to cut underneath; for one cannot be understood to have cut down a tree who has divided it with a saw. 1In this proceeding the cause of action is the same as in that under the Aquilian Law. 2He who has the usufruct in the land cannot bring this suit. He who has leased land belonging to the State can bring this suit, just as he can the action for taking care of rain-water and the one to establish boundaries.
6 Pomponius libro vicensimo ad Sabinum. Si plures eandem arborem furtim ceciderint, cum singulis in solidum agetur. 1At si eadem arbor plurium fuerit, universis dumtaxat una et semel poena praestabitur. 2Si arbor in vicini fundum radices porrexit, recidere eas vicino non licebit, agere autem licebit non esse ei ius (sicuti tignum aut protectum) inmissum habere. si radicibus vicini arbor aletur, tamen eius est, in cuius fundo origo eius fuerit.
6 Pomponius, On Sabinus, Book XX. Where several persons have cut down the same tree by stealth, the action can be brought against each one of them for the entire amount. 1When, however, the same tree belongs to several persons, the penalty can only be collected once by all of them together. 2Where a tree has extended its roots into the soil of a neighbor, the latter cannot cut them off, but he can bring an action to show that the tree does not belong to him; just as he can do if a beam, or a projecting roof extends over his premises. When a tree is nourished by roots in the soil of a neighbor it, nevertheless, belongs to him from whose land it derives its origin.
7 Ulpianus libro trigensimo octavo ad edictum. Furtim caesae arbores videntur, quae ignorante domino celandique eius causa caeduntur. 1Nec esse hanc furti actionem scribit pedius, cum et sine furto fieri possit, ut quis arbores furtim caedat. 2Si quis radicitus arborem evellerit vel exstirpaverit, hac actione non tenetur: neque enim vel caedit vel succidit vel subsecuit: Aquilia tamen tenetur, quasi ruperit. 3Etiamsi non tota arbor caesa sit, recte tamen agetur quasi caesa. 4Sive autem quis suis manibus, sive dum imperat servo arbores cingi subsecari caedi, hac actione tenetur. idem et si libero imperet. 5Quod si servo suo non praeceperit dominus, sed ipse sua voluntate id amiserit, Sabinus ait competere noxale, ut in ceteris maleficiis: quae sententia vera est. 6Haec actio etiamsi poenalis sit, perpetua est. sed adversus heredem non datur: heredi ceterisque successoribus dabitur. 7Condemnatio autem eius duplum continet.
7 Ulpianus, On the Edict, Book XXXVIII. Trees are considered to have been cut by stealth when they are felled without the knowledge of the owner, and with the intention of concealing it from him. 1Pedius says, that this action is not one of theft, as it is possible for a person to cut down trees by stealth without the intention of committing theft. 2If anyone should tear out a tree by its roots or extirpate it, he will not be liable to this action, for he did not cut it down, or cut it away, or cut it off. He will, however, be liable under the Aquilian Law for having broken it. 3Even if the entire tree has not been cut down, the action will properly be brought as if it had been cut down. 4A person will be liable under this action whether he girdles, cuts off, or cuts down trees with his own hands, or whether he orders his slave to do so. The same rule applies when he gives such an order to a freeman. 5When a master did not order his slave, but the latter committed the act voluntarily, Sabinus says that a noxal action will lie, as in other offences. This opinion is correct. 6This action, although it is a penal one, is perpetual, and is not granted against an heir, but it will be granted in favor of an heir and other successors. 7Judgment in a case of this kind includes double damages.
8 Paulus libro trigensimo nono ad edictum. Facienda aestimatione, quanti domini intersit non laedi: ipsarumque arborum pretium deduci oportet et eius quod superest fieri aestimationem. 1Furtim arborem caedit, qui clam caedit. 2Igitur si ceciderit et lucri faciendi causa contrectaverit, etiam furti tenebitur lignorum causa et condictione et ad exhibendum. 3Qui per vim sciente domino caedit, non incidit in hanc actionem.
8 Paulus, On the Edict, Book XXXIX. In computing the amount of the interest of the owner in not having the damage committed, the value of the trees themselves should be deducted, and an appraisement made of what remains. 1Whoever cuts down a tree clandestinely cuts it down by stealth. 2Therefore, if he should cut and remove it for the purpose of profiting by it, he will be liable for the theft of the wood, and also to a personal action, as well as to one for the production of property. 3Anyone who, with the knowledge of the owner, cuts down a tree by violence, is not liable to this action.
9 Gaius libro tertio decimo ad edictum provinciale. Si colonus sit, qui ceciderit arbores, etiam ex locato cum eo agi potest. plane una actione contentus esse debet actor.
9 Gaius, On the Provincial Edict, Book XIII. When a tenant cuts down trees, suit can be brought against him under the lease; but it is clear that the plaintiff should be content with a single action.
10 Iulianus libro tertio ex Minicio. Si gemina arbor esset et supra terram iunctura eius emineret, una arbor videtur esse. sed si id qua iungeretur non exstaret, totidem arbores sunt, quot species earum supra terram essent.
10 Julianus, On Minicius, Book III. Where there are two parts of one tree, and they are united above the ground, they are regarded as a single tree. But if the point of union is not visible, there are as many trees as there are trunks above the surface.
11 Paulus libro vicensimo secundo ad edictum. Sed si de arboribus caesis ex lege Aquilia actum sit, interdicto quod vi aut clam reddito absolvetur, si satis prima condemnatione gravaverit reum, manente nihilo minus actione ex lege duodecim tabularum.
11 Paulus, On the Edict, Book XXII. Where, however, proceedings have been brought under the Aquilian Law for trees cut down, and judgment under the interdict Quod vi aut clam has been rendered, the defendant will be discharged, if, under the first decision, he has made a sufficient payment; but suit under the Law of the Twelve Tables can still be brought.
12 Iavolenus libro quinto decimo ex Cassio. Qui agrum vendidit, nihilo minus furtim arborum caesarum agere potest.
12 Javolenus, On Cassius, Book XV. Anyone who sells a field, can, nevertheless, bring an action for the cutting of trees before the sale has been concluded.