Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1803-11-25
Iavgers and Costs 81 the Courts and their
O5Fcers.

@La1vYerS and Costs OF the courts ana tHef1
offers.
The number Of lawyers is small, not ex-
,ceeding three or four attornies. Their tees
are small. Suits are carried on in writings
called escritos, which may be drawn up by
the parties themselves, if they please, but
they must be presented by the escri5aao or
notary or who is. the keeper of the records
Of the.court
The fees of the. judges are twenty i've
cents for every half signature or flourish,
(Which is usually fixed on common occasi-
sions, fifty cents for every whole sigma
ture, and two dollars and three fourths for
every attendance, as at a sale or the taking
ofcvidence.
The fees of the Abogado, or person con-
suited by the Judges on law points, are
twelve and an half cents for every leaf of
which the process consists, and four dol
lars for every point of law cited. Those
of the attorney, when employed, are sixty
two and a half cents for a simple petition or
escrito, but if it should be necessary to
read z process, IN orderoto form his petiti-
On, and it should require much time and
labour, he is compensated in proportion,
besides twelve and an half cents per leaf
. for pernsing the papers. For attendance
on any business he is allowed one dollar and
fifty cents for the assistance of two and IN
half hours. The notary has nifty cents for
each decree or order of the Judge, twenty
FIVE cents Decentralization in his Office, and
fifty cents for one out oft, but within the
city; one dollar and seven-eighths for eve
~ attendance of two and ahalf hours on
business, and twenty-five cents additional
for every leaf of paper written by him.
A counsellor or two have sometimes re-
sided at New-Orleans, but being generally
found obnoxious to the officers of the go
vernment, thew have not continued there.
The counsellor values his own services,
and in general exacts large sums. The
attorney generally receives from the party
who employs him more than is allowed by
law.
Crimes, Criminal Jurisprudence, and Pu-
nishments.
In cases of petty crimes the cognizance
ofthe proper court may be said to be final
and without appeal and most commonly
such causes are decided ina summary way.
WithSrespect to crimesof deeper dye more
saempitv. is used. IA person skilled in the
aHs is alvays nominated by the court to
}ead the accused. The trial is not pub
lie but examinations and dispositions in
writing are taken privately by the auditor at
any time most convenient to himself, at
which nevertheless the counsel of the &C
eused is admitted to be present. He has
also every kind Of privilege granted to him
in making his defence. Such suits are ge-
Morally very tedious and expensive, when
he is wealthy. The condemned is entitled
to an appeal as IN civil cases, provided he
gives security for the payment Of the future
costs. There appears, however, to be a
virtual appeal in every condemnation, be-
cause stay of execution takes place until
the confirmation Of the sentence returns
from St Jago de Cuba, where there is
grand tribunal established consisting of five
Judges, before whom counsellors plead as
in our courts,
Crimes OF great atrocity are very rare
Murder By stabbing seems to be confined
to the Spanish soldiers and sailors. The
terror of che magistrates power restraints
assaults, batteries, riots, &c
Panishments are generally mild. They
mostly consist of Imprisonment and pay
ment of costs, sometimes the stocks
White men, not military, are rarely de-
graded BY whipping; and in no case do any
fines go into the public treasury. Murder,
Arson, and aggravated robbery of the
kings treasury or effects, are punished
with death Robbery Of private persons to
any amount is never punished with death,
but by restitution, Imprisonment, and some
times enormous costs Crimes against the
kings revenue, such as contraband trade,