379 
appendix.] WEST INDIES. 
(Persons nvilfully killing slaves to suffer death.) 
XII. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That if 
any person hereafter shall wantonly, willingly, or bloody-mindedly 
kill, or cause to be killed, any negro, or other slave, such person so 
offending shall, on conviction, be adjudged guilty of felony, without 
benefit of clergy, and shall suffer death accordingly for the said of¬ 
fence : Provided always, that such conviction shall not extend to the 
corrupting the blood, or the forfeiture of lands or tenements,, goods or 
chatties; any law, custom, or usage to the contrary thereof, in any 
wise notwithstanding. 
(Persons cruelly beating slaves, honv punishable.) 
XIII. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid. That 
from and after the passing of this act, any person or persons that shall 
wantonly or cruelly whip, maltreat, beat, bruise, wound, or shall 
imprison or keep in confinement, without sufficient support, any slave 
or slaves, shall be subject to be indicted for the same in the supreme 
court of judicature, or in either of the courts of assize, or courts of 
quarter sessions in this island; and, upon being thereof legally con¬ 
victed, he, she, or they, shall suffer such punishment, byfineorimr 
prisoninent, or both , as the judges or justices of such courts shall 
think proper to inflict; any law, custom, or usage to the contrary 
in any wise notwithstanding : And such punishment is hereby decla - 
red to be without prejudice to any action at common law that could 
or might be brought for the recovery of damages for and on account 
of the same, in case such slave or slaves shall not be the property of 
the offender. 
{Arbitrary punishment restrained .) 
XIV. And in order to restrain arbitrary punishments. Be it further 
enacted by the authority aforesaid. That no slave on any plantation or 
settlement, or in any of the work-houses or gaols in,this island, shall 
receive more than ten lashes at one time and for one offence, unless 
the owner, attorney, guardian, executor, or administrator, or over¬ 
seer, of such plantation or settlement, having such slave in his care, 
or supervisor of such work-house, or keeper of such gaol, shall be 
present; and that no such owner, attorney, guardian, executor, ad“ 
