The police of France: or, an account of the laws and regulations established in that kingdom, for the preservation of peace, and the preventing of robberies. To which is added, a particular description of the police and government of the city of Paris / [Anon].

  • Mildmay, William, Sir, 1705-1771.
Date:
1763
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The police of France: or, an account of the laws and regulations established in that kingdom, for the preservation of peace, and the preventing of robberies. To which is added, a particular description of the police and government of the city of Paris / [Anon]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    ( *7 ) take notice, that, in every criminal profecution, an Informa* tion muft firft be laid, charging the accufed, and fpecifying the nature of the offence; according to which the court decretes a perfonal fummons, or an arreft of the body, in cafe he be not taken in the fad:: the prifoner is then to fubmit to the interrogations, and to be confronted by the witneffes and when the evidence on both tides is reduced into writing, and the whole compaded together, the judges pronounce the fentence. Let me further remark, that whatever dilatory arts may be pradifed in the intermediate proceedings, yet when once a fentence is pronounced, the execution immediately follows; infomuch that it is common for a criminal to hear of his condemnation at twelve o’clock, and to be led to his execution at four 5 whether it be to be hanged, or broke upon the wheel. By the execution following fo immediately after the fen¬ tence, no hopes can be entertained of a pardon, ; the King himfelf having no time, unlefs a remiffion be previoufly granted, to exercife that darling attribute of mercy, which, according to the maxim before-noted, is folely the prerogative of his crown ; and which is indeed the moil precious jewel in the crown of every monarch. Punifhment ought only to follow the convidion of the crime; but it happens in this country, that penalties are fometimes inflided, even upon the tryal, in order to arrive at the proof of the guilt; this is called, applying the queffion ; that is, giving an intermediate order for the accufed to un¬ dergo certain tortures, in order to extort a confeffion. This they pretend is only applied, when the circumfhnce is ffrong, C and