INTERPRETATION OF WORDS. (a) 9 GEO. IV. c. 19. Island Act. 1828. In all acts relating to offences, the clude the female, and &c. 9 GEO. IV. c. 19.] For improving the administration of criminal justice. ISLD. [Dec. 24, 1828.] 9 Geo. IV. c. 19, sec. 8.] Wherever any act of this island masculine relating to any offence, whether punishable upon indictment or gender shall summary conviction, in describing or referring to the offence or subject-matter, on or with respect to which it shall be committhe singular ted, or the offender or the party affected or intended to be the plural, affected by the offence, hath used or shall use words importing the singular number or the masculine gender only, yet the act shall be understood to include several matters as well as one matter, and several persons as well as one person, and females as well as males, unless it be otherwise specially provided, or there be something in the subject or context repugnant to such construction. WILL. IV. c. 41. 7 WILL. IV. c. 41.] For consolidating and amending the laws Island Act. relating to offences against the person. 1837. Term "hard labour." ISLD. [March 4, 1837.] 7 Will. c. 41, sec. 30.] The term "hard labour," when used in this act, shall be deemed to mean hard labour on the treadmill, or otherwise, within the house of correction, or upon the highways or otherwise, as the convict gang of any such house of correction may be employed. 2 & 3 WILL. IV. c. 34. 2 and 3 WILL. IV. c. 34.] For consolidating and amending British stat. the laws against offences relating to the coin. 1832. Rules of interpretation as to current BRIT. [May 23, 1832.] 2 and 3 Will. IV. c. 34, sec. 21.] Where "the king's current gold or silver coin," or "the king's current copper coin," shall be (a) For titles of acts, vide Text. (Post.) IV. c. 34. 1832. and criminal mentioned in any part of this act, the same shall be deemed to 2 & 3 WILL. include and denote any gold or silver coin or any copper coin British stat. respectively coined in any of his majesty's mints, and lawfully current in any part of his majesty's dominions, whether within coin, counthe United Kingdom or otherwise; and any of the king's cur- terfeit coin, rent coin which shall have been gilt, silvered, washed, coloured, possession. or cased over, or in any manner altered so as to resemble, or be apparently intended to resemble or pass for any of the king's current coin of a higher denomination, shall be deemed and taken to be counterfeit coin within the intent and meaning of those parts of this act wherein mention is made of false counterfeit coin, resembling, or apparently intended to resemble or pass for, any of the king's current gold or silver coin; and where the having any matter in the custody or possession of any person is in this act expressed to be an offence, if any person shall have any such matter in his personal custody or possession, or shall knowingly and wilfully have any such matter in any dwelling-house or other building, lodging, apartment, field, or other place, open or enclosed, whether belonging to or occupied by himself or not, and whether such matter shall be so had for his own use or benefit, or for that of another, every such person shall be deemed and taken to have such matter in his custody or possession within the meaning of this act. Island Act. 4 VIC. c. 26.] For regulating gaols, houses of correction, and 4 Vic. c. 26. prisons. ISLD. [December 19, 1841.] 4 Vic. c. 26, sec. 41.] In this act, unless the words shall require a different construction, the word "prison" shall be taken to mean and comprise every gaol, house of correction, penitentiary, lock-up house, prison ship, or other place used for the confinement of persons, charged with, or convicted of any offence or otherwise, or detained by legal authority; and the words "visiting justices" shall be taken to mean and comprise visiting justices duly appointed under this act, and also a visitor appointed to prisons where there are no visiting justices; and the word "prisoners" shall apply as well to females as males, and shall include persons committed to prison for want of bail or sureties, as well as persons charged with or convicted of any offence or otherwise detained by legal authority. 1841. 5 VIC. c. 40.] For the better regulation of gaols, houses of correction, aud prisons. ISLD. [1842.] 5 Vic. c. 40, sec. 8.] For the construction of this act in cases where the singular number only is used, the word importing the singular number shall be held to include or shall be applied to several persons and things as well as one person or thing, in the same manner as if the plural number had been also used, and in cases where the plural number is used, the word importing the plural number shall be held to include those applied to one person or thing, as well as several persons and things, in the same manner as if the singular number had also been used, and when any word in this act shall import the masculine gender only, the same shall be held to include and be applied to females as well as males in the same manner as if the word importing the feminine gender had also been used. 6 VIC. c. 38. Island Act. 1842. Interpreta 6 VIC. c. 38.] As to tradesmen and artificers. ISLD. [1842.] 6 Vic. c. 38, sec. 12.] In this act the following words and tion clause. expressions shall have the several meanings hereby assigned to them, unless there is something in the subject or context repugnant to such construction (that is to say): words importing the singular number shall include the plural number, and words importing the plural number shall include the singular. Words importing the masculine gender, shall be understood to include and apply to females as well as males. The expression "superior courts," shall mean, her majesty's supreme court of judicature and courts of assize. The word "oath" shall include affirmation in case of quakers, or other declaration or solemnity lawfully substituted for an oath in the case of other persons exempted by law from the necessity of taking an oath. The word "justice" shall mean justice of the peace for the parish of precinct where the matter requiring the cognizance of any justice shall arise, and who shall not be interested in the matter. 6 VIC. c. 59. Island Act. 1842. Number. 6 VIC. c. 59.] For regulating the police of the town of Port Royal. ISLD. [1842.] 6 Vic. c. 59, sec. 59.] In the construction of this act, in cases where the singular number only is used, the word importing the singular number shall be held to include and shall be applied to several persons or things, as well as one person or thing, Island Act. 1842. in the same manner as if the plural number had been also Vic. c. 58. used. And in cases where the plural number only is used, the the word importing the plural number shall be held to include, and be applied to, one person or thing as well as several persons or things, in the same manner as if the singular number had also been used. And when any word in this act shall import the masculine gender only, the same shall be held to include and be applied to females as well as males, in the same manner as if the word importing the feminine gender had also been used. Island Act. 7 VIC. c. 14.] For the maintenance of order in towns and com- 7 Vic. c. 14. munities. Interpreta this act. 7 Vic. c. 14, sec. 34.] In the construction of this act, "magistrate" shall be taken to mean any justice of the peace of tion of the parish in which the offence is committed; "constable "words in shall mean police-man, and "police-man" mean constable; words importing the singular number, or the masculine gender only, shall be understood to include several matters as well as one matter, and several persons as well as one person, and females as well as males, and bodies corporate as well as individuals, unless it be otherwise specially provided, or there be anything in the subject or context repugnant to such construction; and whenever any forfeiture or penalty is payable to a party aggrieved, it shall be payable to a body corporate in every case where such body shall be the party aggrieved, and that for the purposes and within the meaning of this act, the term "carriage" shall be deemed and taken to mean any wagon, wain, sledge, truck, cart, dray, carriage, chaise, or any other description of wheel carriage drawn by horses, cattle, or any kind of animals, or without animals; and the word "town" shall comprehend all cities and villages. 7 VIC. c. 25.] Jamaica railway act. 7 Vic. c. 25. Island Act. ISLD. [1843.] 1843. pretation of 7 Vic. c. 25, sec. 126.] Where in this act any words shall be Rules for used importing the singular number or the masculine gender the interonly, the same shall be understood to include several matters as this act. well as one matter, several persons as well as one person, and females as well as males, and bodies politic, corporate, and collegiate, aggregate or sole, ecclesiastical and lay as well as individuals, unless in any of the cases aforesaid it be otherwise specially provided, or there is something in the subject or context repugnant to such construction. 8 VIC. c 31. Island Act. 1844. Plural to mean one or more. 8 VIC. c. 31.] As to trespasses by cattle and other stock. 8 Vic. c. 31, sec. 10.] In all cases where the plural number shall have been used, it shall be interpreted as meaning one or more horned cattle, horses, mules, asses, or sheep, unless in any of the cases aforesaid it be otherwise specially provided, or there is something in the subject or context repugnant to such construction. 14 VIC. c. 46. Island Act. 1851. Construc tion of words in this act. 14 VIC. c. 46.] As to trespasses upon property. ISLD. [May 23, 1851.] 14 Vic. c. 46, sec. 13.] In the construction of this act, in cases where the singular number only is used, it shall be held and deemed as applicable to the plural and to several persons as well as to one person: and when the masculine gender is used it shall be held and deemed applicable to the feminine gender as well as to the masculine: and when the word "parish" is used, it shall be held and deemed as applicable to any "city and parish or "precinct" as well as to any parish of this island: and when the words "proprietor" or "occupier," or either of them is used, it shall be held to include and be applicable to tenants, lessees, and procuration attornies and agents, as well as to proprietors or occupiers. 16 & 17 VIC. c. 107. British stat. 1853. 16 and 17 VIC. c. 107.] Customs' consolidation act. BRIT. [1853.] 16 and 17 Vic. c. 107, sec. 360.] In citing this act in other acts of parliament and in legal instruments, it shall be sufficient to use the expression, "The customs' consolidation act, 1853." 17 VIC. c. 3. 17 VIC. c. 3.] Regulating the granting of licenses for the retailIsland Act. ing of distilled spirits, and for appropriating the revenue thereof. ISLD. [December 1, 1853.] 1853. Interpretation of 17 Vic. c. 3, sec. 25.] Where in this act any words shall be words under used importing the singular number or the masculine gender only, the same shall be understood to include several matters as well as one matter, several persons as well as one person, and this act. |