Charged with what?

Last night at work I was reading the Beckley, WV newspaper, The Register~Herald. On the back page of the last section there was a list of all those indictments handed down by the Grand Jury in Fayette and Raleigh counties, listing the names, ages and towns of residence of those being charged and the said charges.

That's a good thing, as sometimes shame does have a way of really deterring some crimes. Philadelphia did it a while back. They published the names of the "Johns" arrested for solicitation.

One charge had me baffled though.

What the hell is "Uttering"?

Quote:

"Michelle Bragg, 26, of Beckley, Uttering, 17 counts"

Well, if uttering is against the law I'd be in jail for the rest of my life. I utter dumb shit all day.

I did a Google search and still couldn't find anything. I know there's some really stupid laws on the books. I remember these from the Pennsylvania Crimes Code. These were still on the books as of 1998 when I left the job:


"Any motorist who sights a team of horses coming toward him must pull well off the road, cover his car with a blanket or canvas that blends with the countryside, and let the horses pass. If the horses appear skittish, the motorist must take his car apart, piece by piece, and hide it under the nearest bushes." (Mr. Goodwrench in your trunk, I presume?)

In Morrisville PA, These two local ordinances:

"women need a permit to wear cosmetics" (There's a lot of jokes I can think of with that one...)

"Ministers are forbidden from performing marriages when either the bride or groom is drunk" (Well, that leaves me out from getting married in Morrisville. I'd HAVE to be drunk to do that again...)

In Harrisburg, PA, local ordinance:

"it is illegal to have sex with a truck driver inside a toll booth" (Someone I know should get a big laugh out of that one, LOL)

Ok, so I need your help. If anyone knows what the hell the crime of "Uttering" is, please let me know?

Copyright 2005 Thomas J Wolfenden