Eavesdropping

The nuisance of hanging about the dwelling-house of another, hearing tattle, and repeating it to the disturbance of the neighborhood. * Eaves-droppers. Such as listen under walls or windows, or the eaves of a house, to hearken after discourse, and thereupon to frame slanderous and mischievous tales.^ Eaves-dropping is a common nuisance, indictable at common law, and punishable by fine and by having to fm-nish sureties for good behavior.^ Consists in privily listening, not in looking or peeping. It is a good defense that the act was authorized by the husband of the prosecutrix.*