222 TRINIDAD. 



Court. This magistrate holds a court of petty sessions, assisted, 

 when he deems such assistance necessary, by a justice of the 

 peace. Several of these officers are appointed in each district : 

 they are nominated by the governor, and chosen from among the 

 most respectable inhabitants of the colony. The mayors of Port 

 of Spain and San Fernando are justices of the peace in their 

 respective boroughs ; and the members of the Legislative Council 

 magistrates throughout the island, under the ordinance regulating 

 the mode of proceeding in criminal cases. 



Rural Districts Courts. The island has been divided, for 

 police purposes, into seven districts, viz. : two in the county of 

 St. George, the eastern and western the former comprising part 

 of Caroni ; county of St. David, one district magistrate residing at 

 Toco ; counties of Caroni and Victoria, one district each ; county 

 of St. Patrick, two districts ; county of Mayaro, including Nariva, 

 one district. 



To each of these districts is appointed a stipendiary magistrate, 

 with a clerk of the peace. This magistrate performs the duties 

 assigned both to the commissioner of the Petty Civil Court and 

 the stipendiary justice of Port of Spain. 



The jurisdiction of all these minor courts is limited to fines not 

 exceeding 10, and to imprisonment, with or withoujfc hard labour, 

 not exceeding three months. 



The important duties of coroner are also performed by the 

 stipendiary justices, or, in their absence, by justices of the peace, 

 who take the preliminary examination, find the verdict, and then 

 forward the depositions to the attorney-general. 



Supreme Criminal Court. A criminal session is held quar- 

 terly in Port of Spain, viz. : in March, June, September, and 

 December, for the trial of criminal cases, before the two judges ; 

 and a jury of twelve is called to decide on the guilt or innocence 

 of the accused. The prosecution is conducted by the attorney- 

 general, or public prosecutor, who, on certain occasions, may be 

 assisted by a member of the bar ; or by the solicitor-general in 

 case of need. 



The verdict of the jury must be unanimous, or the jurors are 

 confined for twenty-four hours without nourishment until they 

 come to a final understanding, or are dismissed on some good 

 ground. The highest term of imprisonment for each offence is 

 four years, with hard labour during the entire period. 



