318 Assembly Proceedings, May 24-June 24, 1749.

Liber B. L. C.

hereby directed and required after the End of this present Session
of Assembly, as soon as conveniently may be, to bargain, sell, and
dispose of, for the greatest Price in current Money that can be got

p. 476

for the same, the Materials, of what Nature or Kind soever, of the
House heretofore erected or used for the Prison or Goal of the
said County, and now commonly called or known by the Name of

the Old Prison; and the Money arising by such Sale, the Justices

aforesaid are hereby directed and required to use and apply towards
the defraying the public Charge of the said County; any Law, Usage
or Custom to the contrary thereof, in any wise notwithstanding.

June 23^d 1749
Read and Assented to
by the Lower House of
Assembly
Signed p Order
M Macnemara Cl lo ho.

On behalf of the Right
Hon^ble the Lord Prop^ry
of this province I will
this be a Law.
Sam: Ogle

The Great Seal in
wax appendant

23 June 1749
Read and Assented to
by the Upper House of
Assembly
Signed p Order
J Ross Cl Up Ho.

No. 11

An Act for the Relief of Persons accused and acquitted, and of
Witnesses against Persons accused.

[Preamble.]

Whereas many People within this Province have been accused
and prosecuted for Offences and Crimes whereof they have been
innocent, and thereof have been acquit; but by Means of the great
Expence and Charges attending such Prosecutions, have been either
confined for such Expence and Charges, or sold for Servants.
And whereas also many indigent Persons, or Strangers, have been
necessarily, for Want of Sureties to appear as Witnesses, com-
mitted to Prison; by Means whereof, such Persons have often been
sold as Servants for the Prison Fees arising upon such Commit-
ment, or otherwise detained in Prison for such Fees, to their great
Damage, and Loss to the Public in the Labour of such Person or
Persons.

[Prosecution
and Im-
prisonment
Fees to be
paid by the
County or
the Public,
where the
Person ac-
cused is ac-
quired.]

Be it Enacted by the Right Honourable the Lord Proprietary, by
and with the Advice and Consent of his Lordship's Governor, and
the Upper and Lower Houses of Assembly, and the Authority of the
same, That where any Person, from and after the End of this Ses-
sion of Assembly, shall be arrested, accused, or prosecuted, in any
Court within this Province, for any Offence or Crime whatsoever,
and be duely and legally acquit by Verdict of a Jury Ignoramus
returned, or otherwise, that then and in such Case, such Person shall
not be chargeable with, or pay any Fees upon such Prosecution, or
by Reason thereof; but that in such Case, the County where the
Prosecution is carried on shall be chargeable with, and pay such
Fees: And in all other Cases, not within the Cognizance of the
County Courts, but tried or otherwise determined in a superior
Court, the Public shall be chargeable with, and pay such Fee or
Fees; any Law, Usage, or Custom, to the contrary notwithstanding.