LAWS OF MARYLAND—1777. 139
SEC. 18. Refers lo those who, from religious scruples, failed to sign the
articles of association to sustain the independence of the American people,
SEC. 19. Prescribes a mode of publication of this law, variant from that
now in practice under the laws of this state. |
|
SEC. 20. And be it enacted, That the general and county
courts within this state shall, at all and every of their courts,
give this act in charge to the grand juries of their respective
courts.
Chancellor Kilty has reprinted this law without any remarks thereon. It
originated daring our revolutionary struggle. It seems that many of its pro-
visions were intended to be in force only during that war; yet I do not hold
myself at liberty to withhold its reprint.
OCTOBER, 1777—CHAPTER 1.
AN ACT to Punish Certain Crimes. |
And given
in charge. |
Be it enacted, by the General Assembly of Maryland, That it
any subject or inhabitant of this state, within or without this
state, and if any person shall, within this state, wilfully and
maliciously burn or destroy, or attempt or conspire to burn or
destroy, any magazine of provisions, or of military or naval
stores, belonging to this state, or the United States, or any of
them, and if any person shall wilfully and maliciously burn or
destroy, or attempt or conspire to burn or destroy, or shall wil-
fully betray, or voluntarily yield or deliver, or attempt or con-
spire to betray, yield or deliver to the enemy, any vessel belong-
ing to the United States, or to this or any other of the United
States, or to any subject of this or any other of the United
States, and shall be thereof convicted in the general court of
this state, or shall stand mute, or peremptorily challenge above
the number twenty of the pannel, such person, his aider or
abettor, shall suffer death as a felon without benefit of clergy ;
provided nevertheless, that so much of this act as relates to pri-
vate property, shall be and continue in force for and during the
present war with Great Britain, and no longer.
The burning of a magazine belonging to the state is punishable by 1809,
ch. 138.
CHAPTER 9.
A SUPPLEMENTARY ACT to an act, entitled. An act to establish orphans
courts in the several counties of this state.
This net is superseded by 1798, ch. 101.
CHAPTER 12.
AN ACT to empower the county courts to issue subpoenas for witnesses
residing in other counties to attend trials to be had before such courts,
and to direct the manner of issuing executions from one county to
another. |
Persons
destroying
magazines,
&c. to suf-
fer death. |
Be it enacted, by the General Assembly of Maryland, That
it shall and may be lawful for the clerk of any county court to |
Clerks may
issue sum-
mons, &c. |
|
 |
