Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1865-03-23
IPUpL1c-No. qQ.I
AN ACT to provide for the summary trial o
minor offences against the laws of the Uni

AN ACT to provide for the summary trial of
minor offences against the laws of the Uni
ted States.
BE il enacted by the Senate and House Of
Representatives, Of the United States Of Amor
lea in Congress assembled,
That il shall be lawful for the judge of any
district court of the United States to hold
special session of said court at any time,
whether in term or vacation, for the trial Of
minor offences against the laws Of the United
States, as hereinafter provided.
Sec ., And be ii further enacted That
whenever o complaint shall be made against
any master, officer, or mariner of any ship
or vessel belonging, in whole or in part, to
any citizen or citizens of the United States,
of the commission of any offence, not capt.
tai or otherwise infamous. against any law
of the United States made for the protection
ofpersOns or property engage in com merce
or navigation, it shall be the duty of the dis
trict attorney to investigate the same, ana
the general nature thereof, and if, in his
opinion, the case is such as should be sum-
marty tried under the provisions of this act,
he shall report the same to the dlstrictJudge,
and the judge shall forthwith, or as soon as
the ordinary business of the court will per-
nit, proceed to try the cause, and for that
purpose may, if necessary, hold special
session of the court.
Sec. 3. and be ii further enacted, That at
such trial it shall not be necessary that
the accused shall have been previously in
dicted but d statement of complaint, verified
by oath, in writing, shall be presented to the
court, setting out the offence in such man
ner as clearly as to appriSe the accused of
the character of the offence complained of,
and to enable him TO answer the complaint.
Aud the said complaint or statement shall
be read to the accused, who may plead to or
answer the same, or make counter state
ment.
Sec 4. And be it further enacted, That the
trial shall thereupon be proceeded with in a
summary manner, and the case shall be decid-
ed by the court, unless, at the time for plead
ing or answering, the accused shall demand
jury, in which case the trial shall be upon
the complaint and plea of not guilty
Sec. s. And be 1t further enacted, That it
shall not be lawful for the court to sentence
any person convicted on such trial to any
greater punishment than imprisonment in
Jail for one year, or to a fine exceeding five
hundred dollars, both, in his discretion, in
those cases where the laws of the United
States authorizeIuch Imprisonment and fine
Sec. 6, Ind be 1t fiHtyer enacted, That
it shall be lawful for the court to allow the
district attorney to amend the statement or
complaint at any stage of the proceedings,
before verdict, if, in the opinion of the court,
such amendment viii work no injustice to
the accused; and ift appear-to the court
that the accused is unpreparedsto meet the
charge as amended, and that an adjourn,
ment of the cause will promote the ends OF
justice, such an adjournment shall be made
until further day, to be fixed by the court
Sec. 7. And be ii further enacted, That at
such trial. ifby jury, the United States and
the accused shall be entitled to three peremp.
tory challenges. Challenges for cause, in such
cases, be tried by the court without the aid
of triers.
Approved June II, 1864.