520 



APPENDIX. 



Penalty on 

 persons 



obstructing the 

 entry of 

 constables 

 authorized to 

 enter any 

 house sus- 

 pected to be 

 a common 

 gaming 

 house. 



Obstructing 

 entry of 

 constables 

 to be 



eTidence of 

 house being 

 a common 

 gaming house. 



the suppression of gaming houses ; be it therefore enacted by 

 the Queen's most excellent majesty, by and with the advice 

 and consent of the lords spiritual and temporal, and commons, 

 in this present parliament assembled, and by the authority of 

 the same as follows : 



1. Any person who shall wilfully prevent any constable or 

 ofiioer authorized under the provisions of the said Act of the 

 eighth and ninth years of her majesty to enter any house, 

 room or place, from entering the same or any part thereof,, 

 or who shall obstruct or delay any such constable or officer 

 in so entering, and any person who, by any bolt, bar, chain 

 or other contrivance shall secure any external or internal 

 door of or means of access to any house, room or place so 

 authorized to be entered, or shall use any means or contriv- 

 ance whatsoever for the purpose of preventing, obstructing 

 or delaying the entry of any constable or officer authorized 

 as aforesaid into any such house, room or place, or any part 

 thereof, may for every such offence, on a summary convictiork 

 of the same before two justices of the peace, be adjudged by 

 such justices to forfeit and pay any penalty not exceeding one- 

 hundred pounds, together with such costs attending the said 

 conviction as to the said justices shall appear reasonable ; and 

 on the non-payment of such penalty and costs, or in the first 

 instance, if to the said justices it shall seem fit, may be com- 

 mitted to the common gaol or house of correction, with or- 

 without hard labour, for any period not exceeding six calendar 

 months (g). 



2. where any constable or officer authorized as aforesaid to 

 enter any house, room or place is wilfully prevented from or 

 obstructed or delayed in entering the same or any part thereof, 

 or where any external or internal door of or means of access to 

 any such house, room or place so authorized to be entered shall 

 be found to be fitted or provided with any bolt, bar, chain, or 

 any means or contrivance for the purpose of preventing, de- 

 laying or obstructing the entry into the same or any part 

 thereof of any constable or officer authorized as aforesaid, 

 or for giving an alarm in case of such entry, or if any such 

 house, room or place is found fitted or provided with any 

 means or contrivance for unlawful gaming, or with any means, 

 or contrivance for concealing, removing, or destroying any 

 instruments of gaming, it shall be evidence, until the contrary 

 be made to appear, that such house, room or place is used as a 

 common gaming houee within the meaning of this Act and of 

 the former Acts relating to gaming, and that the persons found 

 therein were unlawfully playing therein. 



(g) So much of this section and of 

 ss. 3 and 4 as prescribes the term of 

 imprisonment for non-payment of 



penalty and costs, is repealed by the 

 Summary Jurisdiction Act, 1884. 



