The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-03-13
CRIMINAL Laws.

/ f e q CRIMISAL LAWS.
some OF the Prominent Features OF
the Revised Acts.
90 - Z q - u q. sif:
A GREAT INFRINGEMENT AND REFORM
| RIPEs FOR ALL PETTY
| THIEVES : -INTERMARRAGE OF WHITES
LAND BLACKS, MADE. A FELoNY-FEEs OF
l.aoFFICERs GET DOwN-ALLoWANcE FOR
/ sERGEANTs.
The bill revising the criminal laws, which
makes 176 pages OF printed or 228 Of Ms.
matter, having received the sanction Of the
two houses, win to-day or, tomorrow be
| ready for the signature Of the Governor,
and there is every reason to suppose that
be will cheerfully give it.
| i The general scope OF the bin was set forth
! in the report OF the committeeman who
prepared il. and who said: 'sThe bill will
speak for itself. Imperfection may attach
| to, and errors may have crept into it unob-
served by the committee; but the commit
tee feel satisfied that most of the changes
made in existing laws are salutary, and will
commend themselves to the favor OF the
General Assembly. Retrenchment in
| the matter OF criminal charges has
constituted one of the main objects
sought to be accomplished, while at
the same TING the legal rights OF par
ties accused oi crime have been sedu-
lousy guarded. 1t is believed by the COM
mittee that the effect OF this revision will to
very considerable extent reduce the ex-
pendltures of the State for criminal charges
and tend to check the over-crowding OF The
penitentiary by reducing the number of Of
fences punishable by confinement therein"
SOME OF IT'S FEATURES.
1t abolishes, as far as practicable, one
year terms Of confinement in the peniten-
tiary.
In all cases Of petty larceny aud minor Of
fences of like character stripes have been
substituted for confinement in Jail.
They have followed the Iowa law, and
made the intermarriage OF whites and ne
groes felony, punished with confinement
in the pententiary not less than two nor
more chan ten years.
In all cases OF conviction for misdemeanor
the court or justice trying the case shall
ascertain the punishment where the same is
not fixed by law; provided, that not more
than thirty-nine stripes shall be inflicted Oh
one offence Where q female is convicted
OF an offence punishable by stripes she may,
in the discretion of the court, be punished
by confinement in jail not exceeding twelve
months.
No fine shall be assessed by court at less
than five dollars, or by justice at less than
two dollars and half.
The county court, except where other
wise provided, shall have exclusive IurIs-
diction of all offences except where pun
ishable by death, and in that case the ac-
cused may elect to be tried in the circuit
court.
FINANCIAL LAW.
Any sheriff or sergeant conveying pri-
soners to the penitentlary are to be allowed
only one guard where there are two or
more convicts, and in all other cases no
guard shall be allowed.
Any person confined in Jail for failure to
pay fine and costs may hire himself out
for time-not exceeding six months-suf-
ficient to pay such fine and costs, the con-
tract to be with the assent Of the prisoner,
attorney for the Commonwealth, and Judge
Of the court having jurisdiction.
The jail-fees have been materially re-
duced 40 cents is now the allowance in all
cases. The bill proposes scale OF rates
10 cents for. any number under 8, 80 cents
under 10, and % cents for all exceeding 10.
This will make i reduction OF at least
S1O. 600 ner annum in the criminal expenses.
it is claimed.
Whenever practicable the clothing for
prisoners confined in Jail must be OBTAINED
from the Storekeepcr OF the Penitentiary,
and the jaier in all cases must make atflda-
Wit that the price charged is not in excess
of the amount paid for such clothing:
Grand iuries are only to be held In the
county court twice year, unless speclally
ordered by the court One dollar per Gay
shall be allowed for service upon the grand
jury.
The allowance for the feeding OF the jury
in all criminal cases shall be at the rate OF
81 per entire day-or. in other words,
dollar shall not be allowed for one meal.
In all cases where, upon the trial for an
offence not punishable by death or conRne-
ment in the penitentlary ten years, the jury
SHALL not he kept together, but shall be
treated as jurors in civil cases, unless the
court direct otherwise.
A great saving will be made in the trans
portation OF convicts, the railroad compa-
nies having agreed to take conyictS and
their guards at the ute OF two cents per
mile.
RECOMMENDATIONS NOT ADOPTED.
AS proposed by the committee, the bill
was expected to save from S60,00O TO
S75, 1000 in criminal expenses. The amend
ment of that feature of the bill making bail
a matter Of right has very seriously I'M
paired the economy OF the measure. Bail
is now as it was in the Code.
The committee as further measure re-
commended the abolition OF the examine
tion of felony cases after indictment. This
was stricken out by the House, and the law
remains rs before.
The change in the law relating to private
executions OF convicts was also disagreed
to, and that law remains IN Statu quo.
CONCEALED WEAPONS.
In the matter of carrying concealed wea-
pons the House amended the bill by strlk-
inc out the Imprisonment feature, and pro-
yidnc that parties convicted shall not be
fined more than $50.
BURGLARS TOOLS.
An important new feature Of the law is
as follows:
..If any person have in his possession any
tools. implements, or other Quilt known rs
burglars tools, implements, or other outflt,
with intent to commit burglary or larceny,
he shall be deemed guilty OF felony, and
on conviction thereof shall he punished by
confinement ia the penitentiary not less
than five nor more than ten years. The
possession of any such burglarlous tools,
implements, or outfit, shall be prtma tdcle
evidence Of an intent TO commit DurSialy,