Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1899 American Edition.djvu/379

 JUSTICE AND CRIMK

39

—

1894

1895

1896

1897

1898

England Scotland. Gt. Britain (var.) Ireland

United Kingdom

£

5,989,658 886,710 491,678

1,194,129

£

6,226,805 948,405 515,047

1,220,656

£

6,514,955

1,004,113

506.033

1,275,985

£

6,820,062

1,042,690

544,245

1,331,426

£

7,565,359

1,072,195

565,280

1,311,670

8,562,175

8,910,913

9,301,086

9,738,423

10,514,504

In addition to the grant these schools derive an income from endowments,* school fees, local rates, voluntary subscriptions, and other sources. The total receipts of the school boards in England and Wales in 1897 was 10,072,5182. ; in Scotland (including higher class schools), 2,413, 379Z. ; and in Ireland that of the schools under the Commissioners of National Education was 1,386,615^.

Justice and Crime.

England and Wales.

The principal courts having criminal jurisdiction are the petty sessional courts, the general or quarter sessions, the courts of oyer and terminer and gaol delivery, more popularly known as 'assizes,' and the Central Criminal Court. Two or more justices of the peace sitting in a petty sessional court house, the Lord Mayor or any alderman of the City of London, or any metro- politan or l)orough police magistrate or other stipendiary magistrate sitting in a court house, constitute a petty sessional court. The courts of quarter sessions are held four times a year by the justices of the county. Similar courts can be held at other times, and are then called 'general sessions.' Two justices constitute a court, but usually a larger number attend. Certain boroughs have a court of quarter sessions, with similar jurisdiction to the county justices in quarter sessions assemljled, in which the recorder of the borough is the judge. The assize courts are held four times a year in various towns throughout the country by ' commissioners ' nominated by the Crown. These commissioners are generally judges of the Queen's Bench Division of the High Court of Justice, but sometimes Queen's Counsel of good standing are appointed. The trial takes place before a single commissioner. The Central Criminal Court is the court of oyer and terminer and gaol delivery for the City of London and a large surrounding district. The sessions of this court are held at least twelve times a year, and more often if necessaiy. The Recorder and the Common Serjeant, and, if the number of the prisoners makes it necessaiy, the judge of the City of London Court, sit on the first two days, after which they are joined by the judges of the High Court on the rota, for whom the more serious cases are reserved. A petty sessional court deals summarily with minor offences. Cases of a more serious nature are usually investigated by a petty sessional court before lieing tried at the sessions or the assizes. To eveiy sessions, assize, and to every sitting of the Central Crimiiml Court the .sheriif cites 24 of the chief inhabitants of the district, of whom not less than 12 and not more than 23 are sworn and constitute a grand jury. The grand jury examines the bill of indictment against the accused person, heai-s tlie evidence of witnesses