Annual report on the social and economic progress of the people of Sierra Leone.

Date:
[1935]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Annual report on the social and economic progress of the people of Sierra Leone. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    (b) The criminal jurisdiction of these Courts is practically the same as that of the Magistrates’ Courts in the Colony. They can commit persons for trial before the Circuit Court, or, in very rare cases, before the Supreme Court of the Colony. They also possess a civil jurisdiction in most cases up to ^50. (iii) Courts of Native Chiefs (Ordinance No. 40 of 1932). The Courts are composed of native chiefs and have a limited civil and criminal jurisdiction in cases arising exclusively be¬ tween natives of the Protectorate, other than persons employed in the Government service. They are subject in all respects to the supervision of the District Commissioner who can amend, vary or set aside any of their decisions or sentences. (iv) Combined Courts (Ordinance No. 40 of 1932). In certain chiefdoms where there is a considerable number of non-natives settled or residing, the Paramount Chief and a non-native appointed by the District Commissioner, subject to confirmation by the Governor, sit as “ Joint Judges ” to decide petty civil cases arising between non-natives and natives. The orders of this Court may be enforced by the District Commissioner who can review its decision to all cases. Criminal Cases tried in the Police Magistrate's Court, Freetown, in 1935. Committed Cases Persons Persons Persons. for trial in Offences. reported. arrested. convicted. discharged. the Supreme Assault and Battery ... 104 129 97 30 Court. 2 Harbour offences 47 68 65 3 — Stowaways 16 14 9 5 — Customs offences 45 53 52 1 — Housebreaking. 17 27 10 3 14 Burglary. 15 12 5 3 4 Larceny. 438 506 374 129 3 Larceny from Ship 13 16 13 3 — Public Health offences... 64 67 65 2 — Shop breaking ... 16 — — — — Larceny from a house ... 75 77 60 15 2 Breach of Immigration Restriction Law 5 8 2 6 Selling Palm Wine with¬ out Licence. 21 41 39 2 Disorderly conduct 70 127 110 17 — Fighting. 24 49 45 4 — Drunk. 21 21 21 — — Wounding . 5 10 4 2 4 Totals . 996 1,225 971 225 29
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