Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1878-07-05
Changes in the Criminal Code.
RETRENCHMENT AND RESPONSIVENESS
FOR THIEvEs--INTERMAR OF
WHITES AND BLACKS FELONY-OFFI-
GERS FEES CUT DOWN.

hEIhENEdMENT AND REFOhHAF ~ nlfES
J FOR NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF
! WHITES AND BLACKS A FELONY-oFFI-
GERS FEES CUT DOWN.
&C., &C., &c.
| The Revised Criminal Code of Virginia
as determined at the last session OF the
General Assembly went into operation on
| Monday, the LIST of July.
The committee of revision, in reporting
to the General Assembly the result OF their
labors, said
THE committee feel satisfied that most
OF the changes made in existing laws are
Salutary, and will commend themselves to
the favor Of the General Assembly. Re-
! trenchment in the matter OF CRIMINAL
charges las constituted one OF the main
objects sought to be accomplished, while at
the same Time the legal rights OF parties
accused of crime have been sedulouSly
guarded. 1t is believed by the committee
that the effect Of this revision will to very
considerable extent reduce the expendl-
lures of the State for criminal charges, and
tend to check the over crowdlng OF the
| penitentiary by reducing the number of
offences punishable by confinement there
in"
The prominen0 features have been brief
| ly referred to from time to time, but the
| p Ople generally, in view OF the fact that
the laws were not to become Immediately
| operative. gave them no very thoughtful
attention, and to nearly every one they are
new to this day.
| The present seems an Opportune moment
to point out those changes and new provl-
sions which are Of general public interest,
as follows:
NO VOTES TO BE BOUGHT.
If any person directly give to voter in
any election any money, goods, or chattels,
or pay his capitation-taX, under an agree
ment, expressed or implied, that such voter
shall give his vote for a particular candl-
date. such person shall be punished by fine
not less than $40 nor more than 300. And
the voter receiving such money, goods, or
chattels, or having his capitaton-tax paid
in pursuance of such agreement, shall be
punished in like manner with the person
giving the same.-Chapter TX, section 26.
THE HIPPING-POST-FINES.
In all cases of conviction for misdemean-
or the court Of justice trying the case shall
ascertain the punishment, where the same
is not fixed by law: Provided, that not
more than thirty-nin stripes shall be in
fiicted in one day nor more than seventy
eight for one offence, and that no fine shall
be assessed by court at less than IS, or by
justice of the peace at less than 81, so, I'M
less otherwise provided by law.-Chapter
x, section "a.
SECOND OFFENCE OF PETIT LARCENY
Where person is convicted of petit lar
ceny, and it is alleged in the Indictment
ON which he is convicted and admitted, or
by the jury or justice of the peace before
| whom he is tried, found, that he has been
before sentenced in the United States for
like offence, he shall be punished with
stripes; and, in the discretion of the court
or justice, may be sentenced to work in the
chain-gang, if there be one established, in
the county or corporation in which he was
tried, not exceeding twelve mOnthS-Chap-
ter x, section 81.
PUNISHMENT OF FEMALES.
In any case where female is convicted
of an offence punishable by stripes, she
may, in the discretion of the court, be pun
ished by confinement in Jail, not exceeding
twelve months, instead of by stripes
Chapter K, section 26.
The above paragraph is under the wrong
heading in the Acts of Assembly. 1t is in
the proper place in Goodies Criminal Code.
The latter has fine index.
CITIES TO cLoTHE CHAIN-GANG MEN.
Counties or cities using prisoners in
chain-gangs ''shall provide for the paymen t
of the expenses of said chain-gangS, and
shall furnish the clothing necessary for
such persons, to be paid out of their city,
town, and county treasures. "-Chapter
XII, section 70.
Prisoners may be allowed to work out
fines and costs at twenty-five cents per
day.
JURISDICTION OF COUNTY COURTS.
The county court, except where other
wise provi ed, shall have exclusive, orig-
nal jurisdiction for the trial of all present
ments, Indictments, and infOrmations for
offences committed within their respective
counties, and also of all presentments, i'll
dictments, and informations now pending
in said courts; except that a person to be
tried for any felony for which he may be
punished with death, may, upon his 'ar-
raignment in the county court, demand to
be tried in the circuit court having Juris-
diction over the county. for which. said
county court is held. But no such demand
shall be allowed in a corporation court in
which capital felonies may now be tried
Chapter xvii, section 1.
ALLOWANCE FOR PHYSICIAN OR ANA
LYRICAL CHEMIST.
A court may appoint physician to at
tend prisoners in its. Jail and make him a
reasonable allowance, not exceeding sew
enty-fve cents per day for each day he at
| tends patient. When be attends more
than one patient a,day there may be allow
| ed fifty cents per day for each additional
patient. A court may make an allowance
not to exceed the sum of $25 as compensa
ton to any physician or analytical chemist
| for making an analysis to discover poison
in any criminal case.-Chapter xix, sec
| ton 8.
Sergeants are required to buy clothing
| for prisoners from the General Agent of
the penitentiary. They are to make oath
that the price charged is not in excess of
the amount actually paid, and if not OBJ
tanned from the penitentiaiy, why so.-Ib.
FEEDING JURORS-WHEN JURORS NEED
NOT BE HELD TOGETHER.
When in criminal case the jury are
kept together beyond the day on which
| they are empanelled, the court shall direct
it's officer to furnish them with suitable
board and lodging while so confined. The
| expenses thereof, not exceeding the late
of one dollar per entire day for such juror,
| shall be paid out OF the treasury when al
| lowed by the court; but where the punish
ment cannot be death or confinement in
the penitentiary ten years. the jury shall
| not be kept together, but shall be treated
| as jurors in civil cases, unless the court
direct otherwise. Chapter xvii, section
| 10.
| CERTAIN PRISONERS MAY HIRE THEM
SELVES OUT.
If any person is confined in jail under
| the preceding section lin default of pay
ment of fine,) or under capias pro fine. it
shall be lawful for the sheriff of the county
| or sergeant of the corporation, with the
assent in writing of the prisoner, to hire
| such prisoner for such length of time, not
exceeding six months. as may be agreed
on, to any person who will agree to pay
the whole fine and costs for six mon tbs
| service: with the assent of the comfy