Page:Sketches of the life and character of Patrick Henry.djvu/247

 then, such of them, the said Josiah Philips, his asso- ciates and confederates, as shall not so render him or themselves, shall stand and be convicted and attainted of high treason, and shall suffer the pains of death, and incur all forfeitures, penalties, and disabilities, prescrib- ed by the law, against those convicted and attainted of high treason; and that execution of this sentence of attainder shall be done, by order of the general court, to be entered so soon as may be conveniently, after notice that any of the said offenders are in custody of the keeper of the public jail. And if any person committed to the custody of the keeper of the public jail, as an associate or confederate of the said Josiah Philips, shall allege that he hath not been of his asso- ciates or confederates, at any time after the first day of July, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hun- dred and seventy-seven, at which time the said murders and devastations were begun, a petit jury shall be sum- moned and charged, according to the forms of the law, to try, in the presence of the said court, the fact so alleged; and if it be found against the defendant, execution of this act shall be done as before di- rected.

" And that the good people of this commonwealth may not in the mean time, be subject to the unrestrain- ed hostilities of the said insurgents: Be it fmthcr enacted, that from and after the passing of this act, it shall be lawful for any person, with or without orders, to pursue and slay the said Josiah Philips, and any others who have been of his associates or confederates, at any time after the said first day of July aforesaid, and shall not have previously rendered him or them.- selves to any of the officers, civil or military, before described, or otherwise to take and deliver them to

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