The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1884-10-02
Instructions to the Justices of the
Peace in I'd Judicial District.

as committing magistrates is embrac-
ed within the boundaries of your re-
spectiye wards. Should a ward be
divided into two or more Justice of
Peace Precincts and these precincts
separately located, this location de-
fines your jurisdiction.
I'd. You have criminal jurisdiction
as committing magistrates, and have
power to bail or discharge in all cases
not capital or necessarily punishable
at hard labor.
Sd. Receive every complaint chaAg-
ing an offense, within your territorial
jurisdiction, known to our laws,
when credible person offers to sup
port such complaint by his oath. If
the offence charged is above your
criminal jurisdiction, commit the
defendant to Jail to await the action
of the District Judge. If within your
jurisdiction, as above defined, pro-
coed with the investigation, and re-
duce to writing the testimony of the
States witnesses, both on direct and
cross examination. If the accused
demands it, you must also reduce the
testimony OF his witnesses to writing.
1t is also your duty to receive the
voluntary declaration of the accused,
and the answers which, without
promise or threat, and without being
sworn, he shall make to any questions
you may ask him, and reduce the
same to writing and have the priso-
ner sign the same in your presence
and that Of two witnesses, Tor, If he
cannot sign, mention that circum-
stance) and certify this declaration
with your signature and that of two
witnesses. In takiug this voluntary
declaration. you should first warn the
accused that the same chn be used IN
evidence against him on the trial of his
case, and that he need not make it
unless he desires SO to do. See sec
ton 1910, Revised Statutes. II, after
the investigation, you find that a
probable case has been made out for
the State, and you require bail of de-
PENDANT, or commit him to jail in de-
fault thereof, you should, also, take
the recognizance or bond of the ma
terial witnesses for the State, in such
sum as may be reasonable, condition
ed for their appearance before the
next jury term of your District Court
there to give evidence in the case,
and not to depart without leave of the
Court See section 1015, Revised
Statutes. This latter duty is decidedly
important; it will greatly expedite
business before the Grand Jury, and
save expense to your parish. After
the conclusion of all these duties,
you should, scithoat delay, forward
all the papers in the case together
with such articles Of property, weap-
ons, or other implements, that were
used in evidence on the trial before
you, to the Clerk Of the District
Court. This will enable the District
Attorney to prepare Docket for the
grand Jury in advance of the sitting
of that body.
Ath. Compromises, even in cases
OF mlsdemeanor, cannot be permitted
by you. Such authority is vested
exclusively in the District Attorney.
Nor can you, under any circumstances,
except for failure to perform duty on
the public roads, finally determine a
criminal case by assessing fine or
inficting punishment.
9th. Dying declarations should
be reduced to writing. They should
only be taken when made with fall
sense of impending dissolution, and
after declarant has lost all hope of
recovery. The statements OF the dy-
ing man to this effect should form
part of the declaration itself.
9th. After your commitment of
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