Middlesex Sessions:
General Orders of the Court
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19th May 1743 - 22nd February 1753

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Image 210 of 55915th May 1746


and your Committee are of opinion they are not authorized So to do,
that it would be attended with Difficulty and great Contrariety of
Evidence as to the exact time of Selling, and therefore the atmost
that can be done in Such Cases is to Set a less Fine, which may be
done in particular Cases where the Offence is early in the Morning
Should the Court on hearing the Parties Judge it proper So to do.

As to the remaining Objections your Committee are of Opinion
they may be all considered together and may be remedied and
provided aginst by the following Method if approved of by the
Court (viz.) That whereas this Court has appointed particular
Days for Traverses which Days are the beginning of each Session
and generally has fixed Appeals to be heard & determined on
Thursdays So your Committee apprehend Friday Mornings from
Eleven till two may be for the future the Stated time when
Indictments for exercising Trades on the Lords Day Shallbe
brought before the Court whether the Party Stands tryal or
confesses, by which Means every Gentleman in the Comission will
know the fixed time for hearing and determining these Matters and
may attend to give his Sentiments relating there to and the
Determinations of the Court may be more consistent & Uniform
than they have heretofore been. The Prosecutor or Prosecutors will
then be obliged to attend only one Day with his or their Witnesses
where by great Expence will be Saved, and as it is now uncertain
when the Deft. will come in, So that often on a Confession the
Witnesses of the Back of the Indictments are not present in Court
and the Court cannot be apprized as to the Circumstances or time
of the Offence they will be this Means hear from the WItnesses the
whole Matter as they do on other Confessions, and will be better
able to Judge whether Malice or Prospect of Gain bear any part
in the Accusation or Prosecution which has been a Constant
Objection to this otherwise commend able Way of Proceeding.

By this Constant Stated regular way of Proceeding the
Motives of Such Prosecutions will be more easily discovered the
Party acsusing and accused more certainly brought together
at the Same time, Justice more effectually administred, Expences
lessened, Bills for Prosecutions of this King ascertained & Settled,
Fines more likely to be Set adequate to the Offence as it may be




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