HIGH COURT OF MADRAS. 



35 



Becorder did the like to the Aldermen and Burgesses in their 

 several manner and forms. A while after they went to 

 dinner, and about three in the evening the whole Corporation 

 marched in their several robes with the Maces before the 

 Mayor to the Town Hall. 14 



" On Monday the 29th October, it having been found that 

 the Mayor, Mr. Nathaniel Higginson, could not attend the 

 Court so often as might be requisite, in consequence of so 

 much of his time being taken up by his having the care and 

 charge of the general Books of Accompts and the Mint upon 

 him, it was ' agreed and ordered that the Mayor's Court be 

 held once a fortnight, and that any two of the three English 

 Aldermen Justices, or what other Aldermen are willing to go 

 to the Choultry as formerly twice a week, to hear, punish 

 and determine all small offences and complaints to the amount 

 of two pagodas fine or award ; all greater to be deferred to 

 the Mayor's Court to be examined and determined there.' " 15 



The following extracts from the Minutes of Consultation 

 show the mode of procedure under the new Charter : — 



" Wednesday, 18th December 1689. — There being a black 

 fellow and slave named Fransico, alias Chow, condemned to 

 death in the Mayor's Court for theft, who appealing to the Pre- 

 sident and Council, and there appearing no evidence against him 

 at trial, more than his own confession under punishment before 

 his trial, at which time he pleaded not guilty ; notwithstanding 

 which the Jury brought him in Guilty only upon his former 

 confession ; which being a hard case, and this offence too 

 common amongst our slaves, and usually punished with a 

 corporal punishment and banishment ; it is therefore agreed and 

 ordered that the said Chow be pardoned the sentence of death ; 

 and that he be stigmatized on the shoulder with the Honorable 

 Company's mark with a hot iron, and banished to the west coast 



14 Wheeler's Madras, vol. i, p. 205, 



15 Ibid. y p. 206. 



