DISSENTERS.

PLACES of religious worship are to be certified to the bishop, and registered at the archdeacon's court, and recorded at the quarter sessions.-Occupier of any premises permitting any congregation to meet there, not so licensed, &c. P. from 20s. to 20l. 52 Geo. 3. c. 155. s. 2.

Using any place for preaching or teaching without consent of occupier, P. from 40s. to 30l. Ibid. s. 3.

Preachers and teachers at congregations so registered, &c. exempt from all penalties, upon taking the oaths and subscribing the declaration. Ibid. s. 3. 4.

Preaching without taking the oaths, P. from 10s. to 10l. Ibid. s. 4.

Justice administering oaths to give certificate thereof to person taking them. Ibid. s. 8.

Doors of religious

assemblies not to be bolted or barred.

P. from 40s. to 201. Ibid. s. 11.

Any person disturbing a religious assembly, P. to find two sureties in 50l. to answer it at sessions; and, in default, commitment. 1 J. 2 W. Ibid. s. 12.

Information to be within six months, before one or more justices; penalties to be levied by distress, one moiety to the informer, one to the poor of the parish. Ap. sessions. Ibid. s. 15. 16. 17.

DISTRESS.

WHERE goods are fraudulently removed, and concealed in any house, barn, &c. so locked up as to prevent their being taken for arrears of rent, it shall be lawful for the landlord or his agent to take and seize such goods, taking a peaceofficer, and (in the case of a dwelling-house) making oath

before a justice that he has reasonable ground* for suspicion; and shall break open and enter in the day-time such house, barn, &c. and seize the same. 11 Geo. 2. c. 19. s. 7.

If the goods so moved and concealed do not exceed the value of 50%. the landlord or his agent may exhibit his complaint in writing before two justices, who may summon the parties, examine witnesses, and determine in a summary way. P. double value of the goods. R. order under their hands and seals: and if not paid, distress; and in default, commitment to hard labour for six months, or till paid. A. to the landlord or his agent. Ap. to the sessions. Ibid. s. 4. 5.

If any tenant at rack rent, or where the reserved rent shall be three fourths of the yearly value, shall be one year's rent in arrear, and shall desert his premises so that no distress can be had, two justices at the request of the landlord may view the same, and fix on the most conspicuous part of the premises in writing, on what day (not within fourteen) they will take a second view; and if on that second view, the tenant shall not appear and pay the rent, or there should not be sufficient distress on the premises, the justices may put the landlord into possession. Ap. to the next justice of assize. Ibid. s. 16, 17.

Whenever a justice of peace is authorized to levy forfeitures by distress, he may in the warrant order the goods distrained to be sold, in not less than four, or more than eight days, unless the sum and costs be sooner paid. 27 Geo. 2. c. 20.

Officer making distress may deduct reasonable charges, and shall return the overplus; and on request, shall show his warrant, and suffer a copy of it be taken. Ibid.

By some statutes the power of ascertaining the charges of distress and sale is given to the justices; but when this

* No direction is given by this act for the justice to issue a warrant, though the form of a warrant is given both by Dr Burn and Mr. Williams.

provision is omitted, the officer executing the warrant is the sole judge of the reasonableness of his charges in the first instance, and if the party is dissatisfied he must resort to his action.

Where there is not sufficient distress in the jurisdiction, on the warrant being certified by oath, W. 1. to a justice of another jurisdiction, which certificate he must indorse on the warrant, the distress shall be levied as if found in the jurisdiction of the justice who granted the warrant. 33 Geo. 3. c. 55. s. 3.

A warrant of distress should be under hand and seal, unless the statute giving the power to issue the warrant requires it to be under the hand only, and then no seal is required. Willes. Rep. 411.

Brokers making distress for rent, where the sum does not exceed 20., to take no other charges than as follows: levying distress 3s.; man in possession per day 2s. 6d. : appraisement 6d. in the pound on the value; all expenses of advertisements 10s.; catalogues, sale, commission, and delivery of goods, 1s. in the pound, on the net produce of the sale; and not to charge for any act not done. 57 Geo. 3. c. 93. s. 1. Extended by 7 & 8 Geo. 4. c. 17. to distresses for land tax, assessed taxes, poor's rates, church rates, tithes, highway rates, sewer rates, or any other rates, taxes, impositions, or assessments whatever.

Party aggrieved may apply to justice of the peace, who may adjudge treble the amount of monies unlawfully taken, to be paid with costs. P. on payment, distress or commitment to county jail until adjudication satisfied. 57 Geo. 3.

c. 93. s. 2.

Justices may summon witnesses. P. on nonattendance, not exceeding 40s. Ibid. s. 3.

If complaint unfounded, justice may give costs to party complained against. Ibid. s. 4.

When a penalty is directed to be recovered before a

justice, on default of payment justice may distrain on offender's goods. 5 Geo. 4. c. 18. s. 1.

In default of sufficient distress no sale of goods shall take place, but offender may be committed unless security be given, &c. Id. Ibid.

In cases where penalties are directed to be recovered by distress, but no remedy provided, where sufficient distress cannot be found, justice may commit offender, &c. Ibid.

s. 2.

If offender, after commital to prison, shall pay the amount of penalty, &c. to the keeper, he shall be forthwith discharged. Ibid. s. 3.

Justices may commit to prison without issuing warrant of distress in certain cases, with consent of party on whose property penalty is to be levied. Ibid. s. 4.

DOGS.

If any person shall steal any dog, beast or bird, ordinarily kept in a state of confinement, not being the subject of larceny at common law, P. first offence over and above value of dog, beast or bird, sum not exceeding 201.; and for subsequent offence commitment to hard labour, not exceeding twelve calendar months; if subsequent conviction take place before two justices, they may order offender, if a male, to be once or twice whipped, after the expiration of four days from conviction. 7 & 8 G. 4. c. 29. s. 31.

If any dog or such beast, or the skin thereof, or any such bird, or any of the plumage thereof shall be found in the possession, or on the premises of any person by virtue of a search warrant (which justice is authorised to grant by 7 & 8 G. 4. c. 29. s. 63.) the justice may restore same to the owner; and the person in whose possession, &c. the same shall be found (such person knowing that the dog, &c. has been stolen, or that the skin, &c. is the skin, &c. of a stolen

dog, &c.)-First offence liable to such forfeiture, and for every subsequent offence to such punishment as person convicted of stealing any dog, &c. are liable to. Ibid. s. 32.

DOVE.-See PIGEON.

DRUNKENNESS.

PERSON Convicted, P. 5s. for the first offence, or stocks for six hours. A. poor; and for the second offence, to be bound in 10l. to be of good behaviour, with two sureties. J. 1. W. 1. or view. 4 Jac. 1. c. 5. s. 2. 21 Jac. I. c. 7. s. 1. 3.

Peace-officer refusing to obey the precept of the justice, and neglecting due correction of offender, P. 10s. R. distress. A. poor. 4 Jac. I. c. 5. s. 3.

EMBEZZLEMENT.

CLERKS or servants receiving any money, &c. on their master's account, and embezzling it, shall be deemed to have feloniously stolen it—transportation for seven or fourteen years, or imprisonment for not exceeding three years, with whipping in addition. 7 & 8 G. 4. c. 29. s. 46.

Agents embezzling money entrusted to them to be applied to any special purpose, or embezzling any goods or valuable security entrusted to them for safe custody, or for any special purpose-guilty of misdemeanors-liable to same punishIbid. s. 49.

ment.

EVIDENCE.

THE number of witnesses required when a justice is exer

D