JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT. 221 



Criminal Court, and the courts of Petty Sessions the Court of 

 Intendant, and the Vice- Admiralty Court. 



The judiciary personnel is composed of a chief justice, 

 Honourable William George Knox, much respected for his im- 

 partiality, and his attainments as a lawyer and a scholar; a 

 puisne judge, Honourable Herbert T. Bo wen ; an attorney- 

 general, the talented Charles William Warner ; a solicitor- 

 general, Honourable George Garcia ; the registrar of the courts, 

 and the clerk of the judges. There are also eight stipendiary 

 magistrates, two of whom are still paid by the home government ; 

 a commissioner for the town of Port of Spain, who presides over 

 the Petty Civil Court ; his Excellency the Governor, as judge of 

 the Court of Intendant, with his assessor, Honourable H. T. 

 Bowen, and two escribanos or clerks ; an island marshal, with 

 assistants. 



The Complaint Court is held in Port of Spain on the first and 

 third Friday of every month, except during the month of August ; 

 and from the 20th of December to the 1st of February. It has 

 jurisdiction in all civil cases under 20, and is held before one of 

 the judges : solicitors generally appear for the parties. 



The Common Law Court is held before one of the judges and 

 a jury of twelve : it has seven sittings in the year, and decides in 

 all common law cases. 



The Equity Court has a jurisdiction similar to that of the same 

 court in England, and is presided over by the chief justice, assisted 

 by the puisne judge. 



The Supreme Civil Court has also jurisdiction in all cases of 

 insolvency, and is conducted in the same manner as the Equity 

 Court : this jurisdiction was established by special ordinance in 

 the year 1845, and subsequently in 1852. 



Petty Civil Court. This is a court having jurisdiction in Port 

 of Spain only, and is presided over by a commissioner, John 

 Cockerton, Esq., barrister, who is also the town-clerk: it takes 

 cognisance of all civil matters not exceeding 10. 



The Police Court of Port of Spain is held by the stipendiary 

 magistrate of the William District of the county of St. George, 

 John Stone, Esq. , barrister. He gives judgment subject to appeal 

 in all cases of minor importance ; but, in those of a graver 

 character, takes preliminary examinations, which he forwards to 

 the attorney-general for prosecution before the Supreme Criminal 



