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HISTORY OF THE [book iy» 
said two justices shall think proper to direct, not extending to life, or 
imprisonment for life. 
(Slaves stealing horned cattle ho c w punished.) 
XLVII. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That 
if any negro or other slave shall, after the passing of this act, steal 
any such horned cattle, sheep, goat, horse, mare, mule, or ass, or 
shall kill any such horned cattle, sheep, goat, horse, mare, mule, or 
ass, with intent to steal the whole carcass of any such horned cattle, 
sheep, goat, horse, mare, mule, or ass, or any part of the flesh there¬ 
of, such negro or other slave shall, on convietion thereof, suffer 
death, or such other punishment as the court shall think proper to in¬ 
dict. 
(Slaves guilty of crimes hove tried.) 
XLVIII. And whereas it is necessary to declare how, and in what 
manner, slaves shall be tried for the several crimes which they may 
hereafter commit, Be it enacted by the authority aforesaid, That from 
and after the passing of this act, upon complaint made to any justice of 
the peace of any felony, burglary, robbery, burning of houses, cane- 
pieces, rebellious conspiracies, compassing or imagining the death of 
any whiteperson or persons, or any other offence whatsoever committed 
by any slave or slave*, that shall subject such slave or slaves to suffer 
death or transportation, such justice shall issue out his warrant for 
apprehending such offender or offenders, and for all persons to be 
brought before him, or any other justice of the peace, that can give 
evidence; and the evidence of slaves against one another, in this and 
all other cases, snail be received; and if, upon examination, it ap¬ 
pears probable, that the slave or slaves apprehended is or are guilty, 
the justice before whom such examination shall be had and taken, 
shall commit him, her, cr them, to prison, aid bind over the wit¬ 
nesses to appear at a certain day, not less than ten days from the day 
on which the complaint shall be made, and at the place where the 
quarter sessions are usually held, and, where there are no quarter 
sessions held, at the place where the parochial business is usually 
transacted, and shall certify to two other justices of the peace the 
cause of such commitment, and require them, by virtue of this act, 
to associate themselves to him, which said justices are hereby severally 
