Page:Ruffhead - The Statutes at Large - vol 6.djvu/476

 4io C. 6. Anno decimo quarto Georgii II. A. D. 174 1. Preamble. For former. Pro* •vifiani concerning Sheep refer to 3 II. i.e. 2. SElix. c. 3. Sheep-ftealing or ftealing any Part of them, made Felony, Reward for taking and con vifting Sheep- fiealers. CAP. VI. An Ad to render the Laws more effectual for the preventing the ftealing and deftroying of Sheep, and other Cattle. WHEREAS divers evil-difpofed Perfons have of late more generally and frequently than was ever known before, made it their Practices fecretly in the Night-time to drive away and Steal great Numbers of Sheep, and hkewife fecretly in the Night-time to kill great Numbers of Sheep, and to ftrip off their Skins, and then fteal the Carcafes of ths Sheep fo killed, leaving their Skins behind to prevent Discoveries ; and alfo in like Manner to kill great Numbers of Sheep, and then cut open the Sheep fo killed, and take out and fteal their inward Fat, leaving their Carcafes behind to prevent being discovered ; by which wicked Practices many of his Majefty's good Subjects have been very greatly injured in their Properties, and put to very great Charges in having their Sheep and other Cat- tle watched : And whereas the Laws in Being have not proved effectual to prevent the Increafe of the faid wicked Practices ;' Be it therefore enacted by the King's moft Excellent Majefty, by and with the Advice and Confent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this prefent Parliament affembled, and by the Authority of the fame, That if any Perfon or Perfons fhall, at any Time, from and after the firft Day of May in the Year of our Lord one thoufand feven hundred and forty-one, felonioufly drive away, or in any other Manner feloniously fteal, one or more Sheep or other Cattle of without Benefit an y other Perfon or Perfons whatfoever, or fhall wilfully kill one or more Sheep or other Cattle of any elgy " other Perfon or Perfons whatfoever, with a felonious Intent to fteal the whole Carcafe or Carcafes, or any Explained by Part or Parts of the Carcafe or Carcafes of any one or more Sheep or other Cattle that (hall be fo killed, 15 Geo. 2. c. 34. or ^ la ]j a fr;ft or gjj an y p er f on or Perfons to commit any fuch Offence or Offences ; that then the Per- fon or Perfons guilty of any fuch Offence, being thereof convicted in due Form of Law, fhall be ad- judged guilty of Felony, and fhall fuffer Death as in Cafes of Felony, without Benefit of Clergy. II. And for the Encouragement of fuch Perfons as fhall vigorously endeavour to discover, apprehend and profecute fuch Offenders as aforefaid ; Be it further enacted by the Authority aforefaid, That frorrv and after the firft Day of May one thoufand feven hundred and forty-one, all and every Perfon and Per- fons, who fhall apprehend and profecute to Conviction, any Offender or Offenders guilty of any of the Offences herein before mentioned, fhall have and receive, as a Reward upon every fuch Conviction,, the Sum of ten Pounds, to be paid within one Month after fuch refpective Conviction, by the Sheriff or Sheriffs of the County where fuch Offence or Offences fhall be committed and done (without any De- duction whatfoever) to the Perfon or Perfons fo apprehending and profecuting fuch Offender or Offend- ers, he or they tendering a Certificate to the Sheriff or Sheriffs figned by the Judge or Judges, before whom any fuch Offender fhall be convicted, certifying fuch Conviction, and where the Offence was committed, and that Such Offender or Oifenders was or were apprehended and profecuted by the Per- fon or Perfons claiming the faid Reward; which Certificate the faid Judge or Judges are hereby autho- rized and required to Sign accordingly, before the End of the fame Seilions or Affizes, at which fuch refpective Conviction fhall happen to be ; and in fuch Certificate fhall direct and appoint (in cafe more than one Perfon fhall claim a Right to the faid Reward] what Share and Proportion thereof fhall be paid to each Claimant ; and if it (hall happen that any fuch Sheriff or Sheriff's fhall die or be removed before the Expiration of one Mouth after fuch Conviction, and Demand made of the faid Reward (the fame not being paid as -aforefaid) that then the next fucceeding Sheriff or Sheriffs (hall pay the fame Sheriff on De- within one Month after Demand, and Certificate brought, as aforefaid ; and if Default of Payment of fault of Pay- the faid Sum or Sums of Money fhall happen to be made by any Sheriff or Sheriffs, fuch Sheriff or iv en iiA°il 0l ' feit Sheriffs fo making Default fhall forfeit to the Perfon or Perfons, to whom fuch Money is due as afore- faid, double the Sum or Sums of Money he or they ought to have paid, to be recovered by him or them, or his or their Executors or Administrators, in any of his Majefty's Courts of Record at Weft- minfier, by Action of Debt, Bill, Plaint or Information, wherein but one Imparlance, and no Eflbin, Protection or Wager of Law, fhall be allowed, with Treble Colts of Suit, by him or them expended in the Recovery of the fame. III. And be it further enacted by the Authority aforefaid, That all Sheriffs, their Executors and Administrators, upon producing fuch refpective Certificates, and the Receipts for the Monies paid by them in purfuance of this Act, Shall be allowed, and are hereby impowered to deduct,, upon their Accounts, all Monies, other than double the Sum. or Sums of Money, and treble Colts of Suit, which they fhall disburfe as aforefaid ; and that if upon Account of any Sheriff or Sheriffs there fhall not be Money fufficient in the Hands of fuch Sheriff or Sheriffs, to reimburfe him or them fuch Monies paid by him or them by virtue of this A&, that then the Sheriff or Sheriffs, having fo paid the faid Monies, fhall have the fame repaid by the Lord Treafurer or Commiffioners of his Majefty's Treafury for the time being, out of the Revenue of the Crown, upon Certificate from the Clerk of the Pipe to that Effect. Double the Sum, Treble Cofts. Sheriffs how to be repaid. CAP.
 * 5 //. S. c. 13.