CO129-025 - Bonham - 1848 [7-8] — Page 136

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All AI Reviewed

134

all Prisoners being assumed innocent until proved guilty-

20 Prisoners out

it

would be justifiable to confine them in order to ensure their appearance.

This

My Lord,

finding that they

I need scarcely say would only prove a remedy wears an unseemly appearance,

of 5

56

having been acquitted,

come of two

for

may, both for the sake of them after a confinement of months - But be this as it

for the convenience of Prosecutors and witnesses, and in common justice to the Prisoner, there certainly ought not to intervene a longer space between two Sessions than that at present allowed, viz. from the end of April to the 15th July, a period of two months and a half.

The issue of the last Session induced me personally, and in a friendly manner to consult the Chief Justice as to what measures could be adopted to prevent the evil. He admitted that the witnesses are generally liable to personal restraint, during perhaps a couple of months for the purpose of making good their charges, would prefer abandoning them altogether, or would, more probably, take the Law into their own hands and never return to the Colony.

Your Lordship will have the goodness to observe that the Session above alluded to, having opened on the 15th July, the previous one opened and closed on the 15th April, so that the 56 Prisoners in Jail in the absence of witnesses appeared to hint that, whenever there was good reason to believe that Witnesses intended to quit the Colony, it

(three months...

This, my Lord, is a true and honest account of the present state of our Principal Judicial establishment, which it appears to me is but ill adapted to the requirements of the Colony. Such as it is,

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134 all Prisoners being assumed innocent until proved guilty- 20 Prisoners out it would be justifiable to confine them in order to ensure their appearance. This My Lord, finding that they I need scarcely say would only prove a remedy wears an unseemly appearance, of 5 56 having been acquitted, come of two for may, both for the sake of them after a confinement of months - But be this as it for the convenience of Prosecutors and witnesses, and in common justice to the Prisoner, there certainly ought not to intervene a longer space between two Sessions than that at present allowed, viz. from the end of April to the 15th July, a period of two months and a half. The issue of the last Session induced me personally, and in a friendly manner to consult the Chief Justice as to what measures could be adopted to prevent the evil. He admitted that the witnesses are generally liable to personal restraint, during perhaps a couple of months for the purpose of making good their charges, would prefer abandoning them altogether, or would, more probably, take the Law into their own hands and never return to the Colony. Your Lordship will have the goodness to observe that the Session above alluded to, having opened on the 15th July, the previous one opened and closed on the 15th April, so that the 56 Prisoners in Jail in the absence of witnesses appeared to hint that, whenever there was good reason to believe that Witnesses intended to quit the Colony, it (three months... This, my Lord, is a true and honest account of the present state of our Principal Judicial establishment, which it appears to me is but ill adapted to the requirements of the Colony. Such as it is,
Baseline (Original)
8. 134 all Prisoners being accumed innocent until proved quilty- 20 Prisoners out it would be justifiable to confine them in order to ensure their ap appearance. This My Lord, finding that they I need seareely say would only prove a remedy wears an unseemly af unseemly appearanes, of 5 56 haring. been requitted., come of two ofor Miel: for may, both for the of them after a confinements of Mouths - But be this as it. sake of the the convenienec of Proccentors and witnesses, and in common justice to the justies- Prisoner, there certainly ought not to intervene Two Sessions a longer spree between from ary of time than that at presents allowed._, the end of April_ to the 15th July, a period of two souths and a half. The viz. issue of the last. Session induced_me_ personally, and in a friendly amanner to consult the Chief Justice as to what measures could be adopted_ to prevent_ r e eu te nee acquittals A of the evil. He admitted that the Avere lly in con generally consequence of t witnesses liable to personal restraint, during perhaps couple of mouths for the A purpose of making good their charges, would prefer abandoning them altogether, on, would, more probably, take the Law into their own hands and never_~_ return to the Colony.. - Your Lordship will have the gooduces to observe that the session, above alluded to, opened having opened on the 15th July, the previous one and closed on the 15#_ April, so that the Jail 56 Prisoners in Jail of the absence of witnesses and appeared to hint that, whenever there was ood reason to believe good that. Witnesses intended_ to quit the Colony, it (three months... This, my were the accumulation Lord, is a true and honest f necounts of the present writing of our Principal Indicial retablishment, which it appears me, to requirements of is but ill adapted to the the [olony. Such as it is, Such as it is, it is however
2026-05-17 04:28:29 · Baseline
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8.

134

all Prisoners being accumed innocent until

proved quilty-

20 Prisoners out

it

would be justifiable to confine them in order

to ensure their ap

appearance.

This

My Lord,

finding that they

I need seareely say would only prove a remedy

wears an unseemly af

unseemly appearanes,

of 5

56

haring.

been

requitted.,

come of

two

ofor

Miel:

for

may,

both for the

of them after a confinements of

Mouths - But be this as it.

sake of the

the convenienec of Proccentors and witnesses, and in common justice to the

justies-

Prisoner, there certainly ought not to intervene

Two Sessions a longer spree

between

from

ary

of time than that at presents allowed._, the end of April_ to the 15th July, a period of two souths and a half. The

viz.

issue of the last. Session induced_me_ personally, and in a

friendly

amanner to

consult the Chief Justice as to what

measures could be adopted_ to prevent_

r e eu te nee

acquittals

A

of the evil. He admitted that the

Avere

lly in con

generally

consequence of t

witnesses

liable to personal restraint, during perhaps

couple of mouths

for the

A

purpose of making good their charges, would prefer abandoning them altogether, on, would, more probably, take the Law into their own hands and never_~_ return to the Colony..

-

Your Lordship will have the

gooduces

to observe that the session, above alluded to,

opened

having

opened on the 15th July, the previous one

and closed on the 15#_ April, so that the

Jail

56 Prisoners in Jail

of

the

absence of witnesses and appeared to hint

that, whenever there was

ood reason to believe

good

that. Witnesses intended_ to quit the Colony,

it

(three months...

This, my

were

the accumulation

Lord, is a true and honest

f

necounts of the present writing of our Principal Indicial retablishment, which it appears

me,

to

requirements of

is but ill adapted to the the [olony. Such as it is,

Such as it is, it is however

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