misdemeanors. They also hear appeals from the decisions of justices at petty sessions.

Borough sessions were established in boroughs under the Municipal Corporations Act. They are held by the recorders of the respective boroughs once a quarter or oftener, if they think fit, and at times to be fixed by them. The jurisdiction is over such offences as are cognizable by the county sessions.

Persons charged with any offence which upon a first conviction may be punished by penal servitude for life, as well as those arraigned for the following offences, cannot be tried at quarter sessions, but must be committed to the assizes :treason, blasphemy, administering, &c., unlawful oaths, perjury, forgery, burglary, arson, bigamy, abduction, concealment of birth, fraudulent bankruptcy, sedition and libel, conspiracies to commit such offences, stealing or injuring judicial records, wills, or titles to estates.

PETTY SESSIONS are sittings of one or more justices of the peace, who are empowered by statute to try in a summary way and without a jury certain minor offences.

The powers of justices in petty sessions are defined in the Summary Jurisdiction Acts of 1848 (Jervis's Act) and 1879. See EPITOME OF STATUTES, post.

The Summary Jurisdiction Act of 1879 considerably extends the power of magistrates, enabling them to deal summarily with indictable offences. Two justices sitting in petty sessions or one stipendiary magistrate constitute "a court of summary jurisdiction" under the Act.

Regarding" occasional courthouses," see section 20, subsection 5, of Summary Jurisdiction Act, 1879, post.

COUNTY COURTS have jurisdiction in civil proceedings (certain cases excepted) in which the amount claimed or the value of the property in issue is under 50l., unless the parties apply for removal to superior courts. The proceedings are before

the judge without a jury, unless application is made for a jury. A jury in a county court consists of five men.

CONTEMPT OF COURT is a disobedience to or disregard of the rules, orders, process, or dignity of a court, which has power to punish for such offence by attachment. Every judge of a court of record has power immediately to commit for a contempt committed in his presence. A justice cannot commit for contempt of court; he can only order the expulsion of the offender. But if a witness refuses to be examined on oath, or to take such oath or affirmation, or to answer questions put to him, he may be committed to prison for seven days.

POLICE. The police when called upon are bound to assist sheriffs' officers and county court bailiffs, provided they are acting under a proper writ or authority. Under 28 Vict. c. 36, revising barristers are entitled to the services of the constabulary at their courts, as are also the Commissioners of Fisheries when holding a court under the Salmon Fisheries Act, 1865.

Criminal Law Consolidation Acts.

These Acts, passed in 1861, consolidated and amended the criminal law. They are six in number—24 & 25 Vict. cc. 94, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100. They deal with larceny, malicious injury to property, offences against the person, offences against the coinage, and the crime of forgery. Chapter 94 treats of accessories. A synopsis of the various sections of the Acts is given under title EPITOME OF STATUTEs, post.

Cruelty to Animals.

The constabulary are empowered to enforce the Acts passed for the more effectual prevention of cruelty to animals. 12 & 13 Vict. c. 92, s. 2, defines an offender against the Act

as any person who shall cruelly beat, ill-treat, overdrive, abuse, or torture, or cause or procure to be cruelly beaten, &c., any animal. Penalty 51., or if convicted before two justices or a police magistrate, imprisonment instead of penalty. Section 29 of the Act defines "animal" as any horse, mare, gelding, bull, ox, cow, heifer, steer, calf, mule, ass, sheep, lamb, hog, pig, sow, goat, dog, cat, or any other domestic animal.

By 17 & 18 Vict. c. 60, s. 3, it is enacted that by "domestic animal" shall be meant any domestic animal, whether of the kind or species enumerated in clause 29, or of any other kind or species, and whether a quadruped or not. A fighting cock is a domestic animal within this section, but young parrots newly imported are not domestic animals, nor is a dancing bear a domestic animal.

Section 3.-Keeping or using any room, &c., for baiting or fighting any bull, bear, badger, dog, cock, or other kind. of animal, domestic or wild, or encouraging or assisting at the fighting or baiting, &c., are offences against the Act. Penalty 51. Coursing rabbits with dogs in an enclosure from which they cannot escape is not baiting.

as to

Section 12.-Conveying animals in vehicles so subject them to unnecessary pain is an offence against the Act.

As to causing unnecessary pain to cattle on railways or in transit, or starving same, see Contagious Diseases (Animals) Act, 1878, ante, p. 116 (TRANSIT).

IMPOUNDING OFFENCES.-Section 5. Persons impounding animals are bound to provide them with sufficient food and water; and 17 & 18 Vict. c. 60, s. 1, provides for the recovery of costs by poundkeeper and for sale of animal in public market after the expiration of seven clear days from impounding, after three days' public printed notice given. Section 2 of that Act prohibits the use of dogs for draught. See Dogs.

SLAUGHTERING HORSES.-Persons keeping slaughtering houses for slaughtering horses or cattle (not intended for butchers' meat) are required to immediately cut the hair from off the neck of the animal, and within three days kill it, supplying it in the meantime with food and water. Any person using or employing any horse or cattle bought for slaughter is liable to penalties (12 & 13 Vict. c. 92, ss. 8, 9). See also title HORSE SLAUGHTERING, post.

DRUGGING ANIMALS.-See POISON, post.

VIVISECTION.-39 & 40 Vict. c. 77, restricts the performance of painful experiments on living animals for scientific purposes by vivisection or otherwise. Penalty 501. for first offence; for second offence, 100l. or three months' imprisonment.

Section 2 permits experiments with anesthetics on a dog or cat, provided a certificate be obtained; also on a horse, ass, or mule with similar certificate.

Any public exhibition of painful experiments is illegal, or advertising such exhibition.

PROCEDURE.-Search warrant may be granted, and person refusing admission to constable or giving false name, &c., is liable to a penalty of 5l.

DUTIES OF POLICE.-A constable upon view, or upon the information of any other person who shall declare his name and address to him, may apprehend an offender without a warrant and convey him to a justice, see 12 & 13 Vict. c. 99, s. 13; and section 19 contains provisions regarding the custody of the vehicle or animal in charge of the person apprehended.

Note.-A constable should not arrest, but proceed by summons where the offender is known.

Section 20.-Penalty for assault on constable in execution of duty, 51.

Customs Laws.

The law relating to the customs is consolidated by the Customs Law Consolidation Act, 1876 (39 & 40 Vict. c. 36).

Smuggled goods.-All goods liable to duty upon which the duties of customs have not been paid, or the importation of which is prohibited or restricted, and which are unshipped or in the course of removal, are liable to forfeiture, together with any goods found packed with or used in concealing them.

Offenders are liable to a penalty of 100l. or treble the value of the goods. They may be arrested without a warrant.

The constabulary are authorized under section 203 of the Act upon reasonable suspicion to stop and examine any cart, waggon, &c., for the purpose of ascertaining whether any smuggled goods are contained therein.

The first-mentioned statute is amended by 42 & 43 Vict. c. 21, and 44 Vict. c. 12.

Dead Bodies.

A dead body is not capable of being stolen. It is a misdemeanor at common law to remove a corpse from a grave without lawful authority. It is also a misdemeanor, without lawful authority, to dispose of a dead body for the purposes of dissection and for gain and profit.

48 Geo. 3, c. 75, contains provisions regarding the interment of dead bodies cast ashore by the sea, which must be buried by the parish. It is not the duty of the police to remove a dead body from any house where it may be lying. Persons applying to the police with such an object should be

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