THE LAW AS TO TREASON.
• AceortliJig to the report*!, "Colonel" Arthur Lynch, M'.J\. was charged at Bow i>ll eet iv-s follows:—"That he did unlawfully commit the crime of treason, eontrarv to the statute in that case made and provided." Tli.'j original foundation of our law of treason is the Act of Edward 111.. passed in 155f. The various acts of liigli trea.sos, as defined by this Act. are Jt< followx: —Compassing ov imagining the deatli of the King or Qiieen. er of their eldest son and ii-eir: violating the King's companion or the King's eldest daughter unmarried, or the wife of the King's eldest con utid heir; levying war against the King in his realm: "being adherent to the KingV enemies in his re.ilni. givirf' them ;iid asd comfort in the realm or elsewhere" : counterfeiting tiie Great Seal or Coinage; and slaying the Chancellor. Treasurer, or King's justices, etc., beiiu; in thiir places and doing thtir offices. The offence with which Mr Lynch was charged was that of adhering to the King's enemies, and as t» this it is expressly provided that the persons charged must 'thereof be piovablv attainted by people of their condition." By the treason Felony Art of 1848 a:! the constructive treasons, except thox-3 against tlie person of the Sovereign, became felonies. But the act of adhering ta the King's enemies is not included.
The old sentence for treason was hanging, drawing, and quartering, which Coke declared were all punishments attached to treason by Holy Scripture. Women were to be burnt. These sentences involved forfeiture and corruption of blood. Under ft statue of George 111. women are to be handed, not burnt. The Forfeiture Act of 1870 abolished drawing, beheading, and quartering, and also forfeiture and corruption. Executions for treason must still apparently take place in public.
Under the Treason Felony Act any person convicted shall be liable to transportation for life or for any term not less than seven yeare, or to imprisonment, with or without hard labour, for any term not exceeding two years.
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Press, Volume LIX, Issue 11491, 26 January 1903, Page 7
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340THE LAW AS TO TREASON. Press, Volume LIX, Issue 11491, 26 January 1903, Page 7
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