Considerations on the defects of prisons, and their present system of regulation : submitted to the attention of the gentlemen of the county of Gloster, in the course of their proceedings on a plan of reform. To which are added, some general reflections on the subject; addressed to the members of the legislature / By Sir G. O. Paul.

  • Sir George Onesiphorus Paul, 2nd Baronet
Date:
1784
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Considerations on the defects of prisons, and their present system of regulation : submitted to the attention of the gentlemen of the county of Gloster, in the course of their proceedings on a plan of reform. To which are added, some general reflections on the subject; addressed to the members of the legislature / By Sir G. O. Paul. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    22/100 (page 12)
    / [ 12 ] totally repugnant to the Spirit of the Confiitu- tion.* The Delicacy of the Law in prefuming Guilt in fuch Prifoners, is fufEciently marked by the Nature of the Oath we have taken, and the In- - cjuifltion on which we are fitting : ——'On the Probability that an Accufation may be falfe, either through Malice or Miftake, our Confti- tution ordains, that it fhall be inveftigated by a Jury of Perfons, fuppofed of the mofl liberal Education, that, if any Defedt appear in the Evidence, the innocent Man may not even be arraigned before his Country.--What a humane Attention of Britijh Legiflation !—yet, how abfurd 1 unlefs the prefent Conduct of our Prifons be a monftrous Abufe ;-it frequently happens that the Verdidf of our honourable Ac¬ quittal is announced to a Wretch expiring in the Agonies of peflilential Difeafe, or fo reduced * * “ It is the proper End of Cuftody to keep thofe, wh# are accufed of Injuries to Society, amenable to the De- '* cifions of Juftice. But as Accufations are not Proofs, ** and as Innocence is to be prefumed in every Stage of the ^ <c Charge, previous to the Convi6*ion of Guilt, the utmoft 5C Tendernefs and Lenity are clue to the Peifon of the Pri- “ foner : And here it fliould alfo be obferveo, that it is te contrary to public Juftice, and public Utility, to throw te the Accufed and Convifted, the Innocent and the Guil- ty, into the fame Dungeon.” Eden, Fen. Laiv, c. 6. p. 51. bv J /