either to acquit or

condemn

the same upon the evidence

arising from the preparatory examinations taken on the

said Interrogatories, and upon the papers found,

delivered up, or taken in or with such capture,

or on board any other captured ship regarding

the same, unless it shall appear doubtful

to the Judge whether such capture be lawful

prize or not, and unless it shall appear necessary,

according to the circumstances of the case, for the

clearing and determining such doubt, to have such

further evidence as the said Judge may

deem requisite, having regard to the circumstances of the

case

and the practice of the court, in which case

he shall make such decree for further proof on

the part of any

party applying for the same

as to him

may

seem meet.

44

...

take notice that

they are specially

bound

to proceed

to

condemnation.

On the

The said Judges

shall not

proceed to condemnation for

mere want of a claim, unless there be sufficient

evidence that the property belongs to the Enemy

or

is otherwise liable to condemnation or confiscation

...

62

but in case there be no

such evidence the Judge shall wait

a year and

a day from the return of the monition,

before he proceed to condemnation or confiscation for

the want of

a claim.

3. In case of a decree for further proof

the

Judge

shall order the capture to be appraised by persons

to be appointed by the Court, and

sworn

to

appraise the same according to the best of their

skill and knowledge, and for such purpose the Judge shall cause, if he shall think fit, the

goods found on board to be unladen and, an

Inventory thereof being first taken by the Marshal

or other Officer, the Judge shall cause all such

parts of the Goods

as

are perishable to

be

sold by Public sale (for the clear amount of which only the Captors shall be answerable to the Claimants) and the remainder unsold to be put into proper warehouses with separate locks of

the Collector and Comptroller of the Customs,

and where

there is

no

Collector

or

Comptroller, then of some

indifferent

person appointed by the Judge and agents or persons

employed

Share This Page