ASSIZES AND QUARTER SESSIONS.

NOTES TO THE TABLES.

(a) The titles of cffences (Column 1) are much condensed. The fuller titles, and the offences comprised under each head, will be found in Appendix A on page 182.

In Tables II and V offences not triable at Quarter Sessions are omitted, but the numbering of the heads is the same as in Tables I, III, and IV. In Tables IV and V offences for which no sentences of Penal Servitude or Imprisonment have been imposed during the year are also omitted.

(b) The Tables show the numbers of persons prosecuted, not the number of offences. Where, therefore, any person is prosecuted at the same Assizes or Sessions for several offences, one offence has to be selected for tabulation; and the rule followed is to select that for which the proceedings were carried to the furthest stage-to trial if there were several charges, to conviction and sentence if prisoner was tried on several charges. If there are several convictions, the offence selected is that for which the heaviest punishment was awarded. If the final result of proceedings on two or more charges is the same, the more serious offence (as measured by the maximum penalty allowed by the law) appears in the Tables.

(c) Where, in addition to the offence thus selected for detailed tabulation, the same person is prosecuted for other offences of a distinct character, the number of these additional charges is given in Columns 21 to 23 of Tables I, II, and III-Column 21 giving the total number of such charges, Column 22 the number resulting in convictions, and Column 23 the number for which separate sentences (not concurrent with those in Columns 10 to 17) are passed. Only distinct offences are included in these columns.

An exception is made, however, in a case of a charge under Part II of the Prevention of Crime Act, 1908, or Section 1 of the Inebriates Act, 1898. In the former case, if there is no conviction on the count of being an habitual criminal, or no sentence is passed therefor, no record appears in these Statistics; but if the prisoner is convicted and sentenced on the charge, the sentence of preventive detention appears in Column 18 as an additional order made on his conviction of the specific offence which has led to his indictment as an habitual criminal.

In the case of a person convicted and sentenced as an habitual drunkard under Section 1 of the Inebriates Act, 1898, the sentence of detention in an Inebriate Reformatory is given in Column 17 and the footnote, whether it is in substitution for or in addition to a sentence of penal servitude or imprisonment. In the latter case the sentence of penal servitude or imprisonment does not appear in these Tables.

(d) Where a person is prosecuted for one offence and convicted of another (e.g., committed for murder and convicted of manslaughter) the case appears only under the offence of which he was convicted.

(e) All the Tables are for the calendar year ending 31st December, and include only cases finally determined within the year. Cases not entirely disposed of within the year (e.g., tried, but sentence postponed) are held over for the next year's Tables.

When, however, the Epiphany Quarter Sessions commence before the end of the year, any cases disposed of on or before 31st December are included in the Tables for the following year, so as to give four quarters uniformly in each year.

Tables I, II, and III.

(f) Columns 2, 3, and 4, "Numbers for Trial," include only such cases as actually come before the Assizes or Quarter Sessions. Persons who die, escape from prison, abscond while on bail, or are removed to an asylum before trial are not included.

(g) Column 13, "Imprisonment," does not include the sentences of imprisonment which sometimes precede sentences of detention in an Inebriate Reformatory, nor does it include sentences of imprisonment in default of payment of fine or in default of finding sureties.

(h) Columns 15 and 16, "Recognizances," include cases where recognizances are required whether with or without sureties, and, if sureties are required, whether they are found or not.

(i) The cases of Fine" in Column 17 include cases where payment of a fine is imposed as the sentence, whether the fine is actually paid or not.

(j) Columns 18 to 20 are for those cases where more than one punishment is imposed for the same offence. Thus, if a young person convicted of larceny is sentenced to be imprisoned and whipped, the imprisonment appears in Column 13, the whipping in Column 20.

(k) Columns 21 to 23. See note (c) above.

Table VI.

(1) Where several persons are charged with the same offence, this is entered as one case in Column 2, but as several persons in Column 3.

(m) Where there are several charges against the same person, this is entered as one case in Column 2. In selecting the offences for tabulation and giving the results of proceedings, the same rules are followed as in Tables I, II, and III.

Table VII.

(n) Children who have not completed their fourteenth year are regarded as under 14, and are entered in Column 5. Column 6 includes all persons who have completed 14 years, but have not completed 16 years, and similarly with the other columns.

(10) | (11)| (12)

(14) (15) (16)

(17) (18) (19) (20)

(21) (22) (23)

(17) (18) (19) (20)

(22)

1

10

421

Class VI.-Other Offences not included in the above classes.