SENTENCE OF OUTLAWRY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIX, Issue 8125, 25 April 1906, Page 7

SENTENCE OF OUTLAWRY.

CURIOUS survival of old SOOTS LAW. The sentence of outlawry which was recently pronounced at the Glasgow High Court against an absconding solicitor charged with forging a cheque, and a clerk oharged in connection] with a false pretences oonspiraoy, ia a curious survival of old Scots law. The persona of the accused the sentence declares to be forfeited in law. Outlaws become incapable of bearing testimony; they can neither sue nor defend an aotion, civil or criminal; they cannot act on a jury, nor can they be appointed tutor or curator of another. They, In short, cannot claim any personal benefit whatever from the law. They have last all the privileges of British subjects. The sentence of the court is also a warrant for the denunciation cf the ACCUSED AS A JEiEBEL, ' the xesult of which is that his moveable estate is forfeit to the Crown, and if the outlaw remain a year and a day in the conditon of a rebel the profits of his heritable estate, if he have any, or his lifetime are forfeited. The "denunciation at the Horn" takes place at tha Market Cross of Edinburgh. Three "Oyesses" are proclaimed, the sentence iB read, and three blasts with a horn are given, by whioh tho outlaw is understood to be proclaimed rebel to the 'King. The sentence is then fixed to the Market Cross and Thus published. The outlaw can only be reprieved by surrender of his person.