The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1867-04-02
IMPORTANT PUBLIC LAWS.

IMPORTANT PUBLIC LAWS.
For the information of our readers, and foi
the guidance of the Courts now being held. we
publish below several highly important laws
passed by the Legislature at its late session:
AN ACT giuing to the County and Superior
| Courts authority to sentence Criminals to
| cork the Pubic Roads, = ~-.F sat - r. 3.
| Section L Be it enacted by the General AS
| sembly of North Carolina, and it is hereby en-
acted by the authority of the same, That the
Justices Of the County Courts and Judges of
the Superior Courts shall have power and au-
thority, in all criminal cases within their jurs-
dictioh, upon conviction of the defendant in all
cases where the punishment already affixed by
law to the offence does not extend to loss of life,
to sentence the defendant to work in chain
gangs upon the public roads of the county in
which the offence was committed, or upon any
Railroad or other work of internal improvement
in the State for such length of time as the
Court, in the exercise of its discretion, may see
fit, not exceeding one year. &c.
Sec. 2. BE it further enacted, That for the
management and safe keeping Of said criminals,
the County Courts, majority of the acting
justices being present, may elect one or more
suitable persons, who shall be paid for their SER
vices by the day, or by the month, or by the
year, such compensation said justices may
deem just and reasonable, and that the said
Courts shall have full power and authority to
levy taxes on all subjects that are now taxed for
county purposes to meet the payment of the
same. @-@ .'..5 ''
Sec 8 Be it further enacted, That, in all
cases where any criminal shall be sentenced upon
any Of the public roads, commonly called "drt
roads" leading through any section of the coun-
try, it shall be the duty of the court, at the ex
pense of the county, to provide said criminals
with good and wholesome food, and all neces-
sary tools for the purpose of working said roads
Sec. 4. Be it further enacted, That the sew
eral County Courts shall have full power and
authority to make all necessary arrangements
for the protection, safe keeping and comfort of
all criminals thus employed and in all cases
where it may be necessary to do so, there being
no houses within reach of the point where said
work is being done, that can be procured for
lodging said criminals at night, or to protect
them from the weather when it is too inclement
to work, that suitable tent poles and cloths may
be provided for the same, with such camp tools
as may be necessary. ." - ..r.
Sec. 5. Be it further enacted, That in all
cases where the court may be Of opinion that it
is not necessary to confne said criminals in chain
gangs, by fastening them with ball and chain,
the court may sentence them to work said roads
without being thus coufned.
Sec. 6 Be it further enacted, That in all
cases where it may be convenient to sentence
said criminals to work upon any railroad or
other work of internal improvement, in progress
in the State, the court may, at its discretion,
sentence any criminal to work upon any such
works of internal improvement, and in addition
to the time for which said criminals may be
sentenced as punishment for the offence, said
criminals may be required to work out the fine
and costs incurred by the county, together with
any prison fees that may have been incurred for
their confinement previous to their trial aud con
viction said costs to be accounted for and settled
with the said county, or such person the court
may appoint to receive the same, upon such
terms as may be agreed upon with the directors
or managers of said work of internal improve
ment. ss.-t. ...... ."f..i.'T .- . ID
Sec7. Be it further enacted, That if any
prisoner shall make his escape and fail to dis
charge the work in consequence of his abscond-
ing or leaving the service OF the county, before
the expiration Of the time for which he was
sentenced to work, he shall be bound to serve
double the deficient time, and may be re captured
by the sheriff at any time thereafter, aud In all
cases where said criminal shall abseond to any
other or adjoining county,the clerk ofthe county
court may, and be is hereby authorized to, issue
to the sheriff of any county in the State copads
for his arrest. ~ "*. ..-. "s3
Sec 8. BE it further enacted, That in all
cases where any criminal may be sentenced to
labor on any work Of internal improvements, the
directors or managers thereof, in consideration
of his service, shall furnish guard or oversecr
for bis safe keeping and control; and in addi
ton thereto shall furnish them With lodging and
bOard. --l.....t +. -.r .+
Sec 9. Be it further enacted, That this act
shall be in force and take effect from and after
its ratification Ratified March I'd, 1867. ~.
AN ACT Restoring to Married Women their
common Law right of Do,cer. s.' ...s
Section l. Be it enacted by the General As
sembly Of the State Of North Carolina, and it is
hereby enacted by the uthority of the same,
That every married woman shall be entitled to
one third interest of all the lands tenements and
hereditaments of which her husband is or may
be seized and possessed at auy time during
coverture-in which third part, shall be COM
pretended the dwelling house in which her hus-
band and family usually reside, and commonly
known and called the mansion house; together
with the Offices, out houses, building and other
improvements thereuuto belonging or appertaiu-
ing; which third interest shall not be subject to
seizure on execution for the payment of any debt
of her husband, during the term of her life;
Provided, That said interest shall not attach to
any lands that may have been bona fde con-
veyed By the husband previous to the passage
of this act. ...- -.s ,sssg s7e@ + a fs1 ~2-
Sec 2. Be it further enacted, That no alien
alton by the husband, with or without covenants
of warranty, under the provisions OF this act
shall have any other, or further eHecf, than TO
pass his two-thirds interest in the same; Pro