The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-07-01
THE CRIMINAL CODE.
somo or the Prominent Features Of
the Revised Acts.

the Revised Acts. f.s,
A GREAT RETRENCHMEHT AND REFORM
MEAsU RE-sTElPEs FOR ALL PETTY
THIEvEs-INTERMARRIA OF WHITES
AND BLACKS MADE5A FELONY-FEEs OF
OFFICERS CUT DowN-ALLoWAECE FOR
sERGEA NTs.
The new criminal code Of the State-that
is to say the criminal laws rs revised aud
collected in one act at the last session OF the
General Assembly-will go into operation
to-day. The committee Of revision. IN re-
porting to the General Assembly the result
Of their abors, said: no t - =
I" 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 has 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 eSpendi-
lures OF the State for criminal charges, and
tend to check the over-crowdi OF the peni-
tentlary by reducing the number OF offences.
punishable by confinement therein"
The prominent features have been briefly
referred to from time to time, but the peo.
pie generally, IN view of the fact that the
laws were not to become Immediately op"
cratiye, gave them no very thoughtful at-
tention, and to nearly every one they are
new to this day.
The present seems an opportuue moment
| to point out those changes and new provl-
sions which are OF general public interest
as follows:
NO VOTES TO BE BOUGHT.
II any person directly give to voter in
any election any money, goods, or chattels,
or pay his capitation-tax, under an agree
u1ent, expressed or implied. that such voter
shall give his vote for particular candidate,
such person shall be punished by fine not
less than $50 nor more than $l0O. And the
voter receiving such money, goods, or chat
tells, or having his capitation-taX PAID IN
pursuance OF such agreement, shall be pun
ished in like manner with the person giving
the same.-Chapter tx, section 26.
THE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
| In all cases OF conviction for misdemeanor
the court of justice trying the case shall as
certain the punishment, where the same is
not fixed by law: Provided, that not more
than thirty-nine stripes shall be inflicted in
one day nor more than seventy-eight for one
offence, and that no fine shall be assessed by
Il court ct less than S5, or by q justice OF the
peace at less than $3.50, unless otherwise
provided by law.-Chapter ", 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 q. ~: . .'. ..,...~u
| PUNISHMENT OF FEMALES.
In any case where a 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 ", section 80. , ... ~. ..-.-
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 Il fine index.
CITIES TO cLoTIIE CHAIN-GANG MEN.
Counties or cities using prisoners in
chain-gangs "shal provide for the payment
OF the expenses OF said chain-gangs, aud
shall furnish the clothing necessary for such
persons, to be paid out OF their city. town,
and county treasures. ."-Chapter Ni., Sec
tion %. .. .. ..t,s.-.
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 provided, shall have exclusive, origi-
nal jurisdiction for the trial OF all present
ments, indictments, and informatiOns for
offences committed within their respective
counties, and also OF all presentments, in
dietments, and infolnations 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 az
raignment in the county court, demand to
be tried in the circuit court having iuris-
diction over the county for which said
county court is held. But no such demand
shall be allowed in corporation court in
which capital felonics may now be tried
Chapter Xviii, section I.
ALLOWANCE FOR PHYSICIAN OF ANALYTICAL
( | CuEN1ST.
A court may appoint physician to attend
prisoners in its Jail and make him reason
able allowance, not exceeding seyenty-tive
cents per day for each day he attends 4 pa
t!ent. When he attends more than one pa
J tent a day there may be allowed fifty cents
per day for each additional patient. A
court may make an allowance not to exceed
the sum OF $50 as compensation to any ply
slclan or analytical chemist for making an
, analysis to discover poison in any criminal
case.- Chapter XIX, section 3.
| 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 obtained
from the penitentiary, why so.-Ib.
FEEDING JURoRs-wHEN JURORS NEED NOT BE
HELD TOGETHER.
When in Il criminal case the jury are kept
together beyond the day on which they are
empanelled, the court shall direct its officer
to furnish them with suitable board and
lodging while SO confined. The expenses
thereof, not exceeding the rate Of one dol
lar per entire day for such Juror, shall be
paid out of the treasury when allowed by
the court; but where the punishment CAL
Lot be death or confinement in the peniten-
tiary ten years, the jury shall not be kept
together, but shall be treated as Jurors in
civil cases, unless the court direct other
wisc.-Chapter xviii, section 10.
CERTAIN PRISONERS MAY HIRE THEMSELVES
II any person is confined in Jail under the