5

14 & 15 Vict. An Act for the better prevention of offences. c. 19.

14 & 15 Vict. An Act to amend the law relating to expenses of prosecutions, c. 55.

and to make further provisions for the apprehension and
trial of offenders in certain cases. In part, that is to say,
sections two, five, six, seven, eight.

An Act for further improving the administration of criminal
justice. All that is unrepealed except sections twenty-
two, twenty-seven, thirty, and thirty-one.

An Act to make further provision for staying execution of
judgment for misdemeanors upon giving bail in error. The
whole Act, except section eight.

An Act to amend and consolidate the Acts relating to merchant
shipping. In part, that is to say, sections two hundred and
six, two hundred and seven, two hundred and thirty-nine.
An Act to empower the Court of Queen's Bench to order
certain offenders to be tried at the Central Criminal Court.
An Act to facilitate the despatch of business before grand
juries in England and Wales.

An Act to prevent vexatious indictments for certain mis-
demeanors.

An Act to further amend the law of property, and to relieve
trustees. In part, that is to say, section twenty-four, from
and inclusive of the words "shall be guilty of a mis-
demeanor" to and inclusive of the words "the court shall
award and," and also from and inclusive of the words "but
no prosecution" to the end of the section.

An Act to further amend the law of property. In part, that
is to say, section eight.

An Act to consolidate and amend the statute law of England
and Ireland relating to accessories to and abettors of indict-
able offences.

An Act to consolidate and amend the statute law of England
and Ireland relating to larceny and other similar offences.
The whole Act, except the following sections: one, twelve,
fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen from the words "and
whosoever shall" to the end of the section, eighteen, nine-
teen, twenty-one, twenty-two, twenty-three, twenty-four,
twenty-five, thirty-four, thirty-five, sixty-five, sixty-six,
ninety-seven, ninety-nine, one hundred and two, one hun-
dred and five to one hundred and twelve, both inclusive,
one hundred and twenty, one hundred and twenty-two
one hundred and twenty-three.

An Act to consolidate and amend the statute law of England
and Ireland relating to malicious injuries to property. The
whole Act, except the following sections: twenty-two, twenty-
three, twenty-four, twenty-five, thirty-eight, fifty-two, fifty-
three, sixty-two to seventy, both inclusive, seventy-six,
seventy-eight, seventy-nine.

'A.D. 1878.

A.D. 1878.

24 & 25 Vict.
c. 98.

c. 99.

An Act to consolidate and amend the statute law of England
and Ireland relating to indictable offences by forgery. The
whole Act, except sections forty-seven and forty-eight.

24 & 25 Vict. An Act to consolidate and amend the statute law of the United
Kingdom against offences relating to the coin. The whole. 5
Act, except sections twenty-three, twenty-six, twenty-seven,
thirty-two, thirty-three, thirty-four, thirty-nine, forty-one
forty-two (so far as it relates to offences not indictable).
An Act to consolidate and amend the statute law of England
and Ireland relating to offences against the person. The 10
whole Act, except sections forty-three, forty-four, forty-five,
forty-six, sixty-nine, seventy-two, seventy-six, seventy-eight,
seventy-nine.

24 & 25 Vict.
c. 100.

25 & 26 Vict. An Act for the more speedy trial of certain homicides com-
. c. 65.
mitted by persons subject to the Mutiny Act.

28 Vict. c. 18. An Act for amending the law of evidence and practice on
criminal trials. In part, that is to say, section two.
An Act to remove some defects in the administration of the
criminal law. The whole Act, except sections eight and
eleven.

30 & 31 Vict.
c. 35.

31 & 32 Vict.
c. 116.

32 & 33 Vict.
c. 62.

An Act to amend the law relating to larceny and embezzlement. In part, that is to say, section one.

An Act for the abolition of imprisonment, for debt for the punishment of fraudulent debtors, and for other purposes.

15

20

In part, that is to say, sections eleven, twelve, thirteen, 25
fourteen, seventeen, eighteen, nineteen.

33 & 34 Vict. An Act to abolish forfeitures for treason and felony, and to
c. 23.
otherwise amend the law relating thereo. In part, that is to
say, sections three and four.

34 & 35 Vict.

c. 112.

36 & 37 Vict.

c. 71.

An Act for the more effectual prevention of crime. In part, 30 that is to say, section nineteen.

The Fishery Act, 1873. In part, that is to say, section thirteen.

37 & 38 Vict. The False Personation Act, 1874.

c. 36.

38 & 39 Vict. The Falsification of Accounts Act, 1875.

c. 24.

An Act to amend the law relating to offences against the person.

35

The Merchant Shipping Act, 1875. In part, that is to say, 40

section four.

Offences).

A

BILL

To establish a Code of Indictable Offences, and the Procedure relating thereto.

(Prepared and brought in by Mr. Attorney General, Mr. Solicitor General, and Mr. Secretary Cross.)

Ordered, by The House of Commons, to be Printed,

14 May 1878.

[Bill 178.]

Under 31 oz.

A

BILL

ΤΟ

Amend the Law of Evidence in Criminal Trials, and to enable A.D. 1879.
Prisoners or Defendants and their Wives or Husbands to
give Evidence at such Trials.

HEREAS it is expedient for the better administration of justice in criminal proceedings, both as regards the conviction of offenders and the acquittal of innocent persons, to make prisoners or defendants and their wives or husbands competent to 5 give evidence in the manner by this Act provided:

10

Be it therefore enacted by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

1. This Act may be cited as "The Criminal Evidence Amend- Short title. ment Act, 1878."

tation.

2. In this Act the expression "prisoner or defendant" shall Interpremean and include any person who in any criminal proceeding is charged with the commission of any indictable offence, or any 15 offence punishable on summary conviction.

The expression "upon oath" shall include " upon affirmation" in those cases wherein testimony upon affirmation is by law receivable.

The expression "the Act of 1865" shall mean an Act passed 20 in the session of Parliament held in the twenty eighth and twentyninth years of the reign of Her present Majesty, intituled "An Act "for amending the law of evidence and practice on criminal trials." 3. Any prisoner or defendant shall be allowed, if he shall so give evidence think fit, to give evidence on his own behalf.

25

4. Any prisoner or defendant shall be allowed, if he or she shall so think fit, to call as a witness his wife or her husband.

Prisoner may

on his own
behalf.

Prisoner may
call wife or
husband.

5. Where two or more prisoners or defendants are joined in the Prisoner or same indictment, or are together charged with the commission of defendant