English Translation Volume 1 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1825 edition. Excerpt: ...' more, that of men with disordered minds: 72. In all cases of violence, of theft and adultery. ' of defamation and assault, he must not examine too ' strictly the competence of witnesses. 73. ' If 73. ' If there be contradictory evidence, let the Chap. king decide by the plurality of credible witnesses; VIn ' if equality in number, by superiority in virtue; if ' parity in virtue, by the testimony of such twice-born ' men, as have best performed publick duties. 74. ' Evidence of what has been seen, or of what ' has been heard, as slander and the like, given by ' those who saw or heard it, is admissible; and a ' witness, who speaks truth in those cases, neither de' viates from virtue nor loses his wealth: 75. 4 But a witness, who knowingly says any thing, ' before an assembly of good men, different from what ' he had seen or heard, shall fall headlong, after death, ' into a region of horrour, and be debarred from hea' ven. 76. ' When a man sees or hears any thing, without ' being then called upon to attest it, yet, if he be ' afterwards examined as a witness, he must declare ' it, exactly as it was seen, and as it was heard. 77. ' One man, untainted with covetousness and ' other vices, may in some cases be the sole witness, and will have more weight than many women, be4 cause female understandings are apt to waver; or ' than many other men, who have been tarnished with ' crimes. 78. ' What witnesses declare naturally, or without ' bias, must be received on trials; but what they im' properly say, from some unnatural bent, is inapplica' ble to the purposes of justice. 2 H 79. ' The Chap. 79. ' The witnesses being assembled in the middle vin ' of the court-room, in the presence of the plaintiff ' and the defendant, let the judge examine them, ...