The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-02-11
LOCAL MATTERS.

REVISION OF THE CRIMINAL LAws-ECoNO-
MY WHICH MEANS SoMETHING.--The special
Joint Committee on the Revision OF the
Criminal Laws, after a most thorough eX-
animation Of the criminal statutes, have re-
solved to make many changes in the present
luxurious system. They have determined
to abolish, as far as practicable, one-year
terms Of confnemeDS in the penltentl-
arv. Small cases OF petty larceny and
minor offences OF like character stripes
have been substituted for confinement in
jaii. They have followed the Iowa law, and
made the intermarriage of whites and
negroes felony, punished with confne-
ment in the penitentiary not less than two
nor more than 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 80 stripes shall be inflicted on one day,
nor more than IS for one offence. No tine
shall be assessed by court at less than five
dollars, or by justice at less than two dol
lars and half Bail shall be granted in all
cases by the examining justice except where
the offence is punishable by death, and in
that case where, after an examination, IL ap-
pears that only light suspicion OF guilt
attaches to the accused.
The County Court, except where other
wise provided shall have exclusive jurisdic-
ton Of all offences except where punishable
by death, and in that case the accused may
elect to be tried in the Circuit Court.
All executions shall be within the Jail
ward, and in cases where the wall is not
high enough the execution shall be in the
jail in the presence OF the attorney for the
Commonwealth and twelve respectable citi-
zens, including physician: and there may
be allowed such ministers and relatives OF
the convict to be executed as he may desire.
Any sheriff or sergeant conveying pris-
oners to the Denitentiarv shall 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 themselves out
for time-not exceeding six months-suf-
ticient 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 iail-fees have been materially re-
duced in the cities, 40 cents being now the
allowance in all cases. The committee pro-
pose scale of ratcs-40 cents for any num-
Der under 5, 80 cents under 10, and 20 cents
for all eXceeding10. This will make re-
UuClIOH VI uI lCdSI rlO,uVV pSA IL
the criminal expenses, it is claimed.
Whenever practicable the clothing for
prisoners confined in Jail shall be obtained
from the Storekeeper Of the Penitentiary,
and the iailer in all cases shall make atfida-
Wit that the price charged is not in excess
OF the amount paid for such clothing.
Grand juries shall only be held in the
county court twice year, unless specially
ordered by the court. One dollar shall be
allowed for service upon the grand jury.
The allowance for the feeding OF the jury
in all criminal eases shall be ut the rate OF
81 per entire day-or, in other words,
dollar shall not be allowed for one meal.
A great saving will be made i'll the trans
portation of conyictS, the railroad companies
having agreed to take conyicts and their
guards at the rate Of two cents per mile.
There are many other changes made-all
looking to more efficient and economical
criminal procedure.
The committee will report printed bill
in few days. They have been unremit-
ting in their labors, having met every Gay
since the holidays.