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Penalty on Witnesses neglecting to attend or refusing to give Evidence.
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LXVI. If any Person who shall be summoned as a Witness to give Evidence before a Justice touching the Matters alleged in or relating to any Information, Complaint, or other Proceeding depending before such Justice under the Authority of this Act, shall neglect or refuse to appear before such Justice at the Time and Place to be for that Purpose appointed, without a reasonable Excuse, to be allowed by such Justice, or if any Person so summoned shall appear and refuse to be examined and give Evidence before such Justice touching the Matters aforesaid, every Person so offending shall forfeit a Sum not exceeding Forty Shillings; and if any such Witness or any Complainant shall make any Statement in Evidence which shall be proved to be untrue, and to be a wilful and known Misrepresentation of the Circumstances or Occurrences connected with the Complaint, Information, or other Proceeding depending before such Justice, it shall be lawful for the said Justice to commit the Person so offending to Prison for any Period not exceeding Two Calendar Months, with or without Hard Labour, as the said Justice shall direct: Provided always, that nothing herein contained shall prevent a Prosecution for Perjury against any such Witness or Complainant, if such Justice shall so direct; and if any Complainant, Witness, Defendant, or other Person shall, by any disrespectful or disorderly Conduct before the said Justice, in the Use of violent, abusive, or indecorous Language, to whomsoever applied, or of any Imprecation, Threat, or slanderous Imputation, or of any menacing Gesture, or of any Act, Gesture, or Language tending to provoke a Breach of the Peace, or of any other Means of Disturbance or Disorder, it shall be lawful for the said Justice to inflict for every such Offence a Fine not exceeding Forty Shillings, and in default of immediate Payment thereof to commit the Person so offending to Prison for any Period not exceeding Seven Days.
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