Slave Trade Act 1843

IV Evidence may be taken abroad, and transmitted to the Court of Queen's Bench.

And whereas the Provisions heretofore made for the hearing and determining in England of Offences committed against the Acts for the Abolition of the Slave Trade in Places out of this United Kingdom have been found ineffectual, by reason of the Difficulty of proving in this Kingdom Matters and Things done elsewhere ; be it enacted, That in all Cases of Indictment or Information laid or exhibited in the Court of Queen's Bench for Misdemeanors or Offences committed against the said Acts or against this present Act in any Places out of the United Kingdom, and within any British Colony, Settlement, Plantation, or Territory, it shall and may be lawful for Her Majesty's said Court, upon Motion to be made on behalf of the Prosecutor or Defendant, to award a Writ or Writs of Mandamus, requiring the Chief Justice or other chief judicial Officer in such Colony, Settlement, Plantation, or Territory, who are hereby respectively authorized and required accordingly to hold a Court, with all convenient Speed, for the Examination of Witnesses and receiving other Proofs concerning the Matters charged in such Indictments or Informations respectively, and in the meantime to cause public Notice to be given of the holding of such Courts, and Summonses to be issued for the Attendances of Witnesses and of Agents and Counsel of the Parties; and such Examination as aforesaid shall be then and there openly and publicly taken in the said Court vivâ voce, upon the respective Oaths of the Persons examined, and be reduced to Writing, and be sent to Her Majesty in Her Court of Queen's Bench (in manner set forth and prescribed in an [13 G. 3. c. 65.] Act passed in the Thirteenth Year of George the Third, Chapter Sixty-three, intituled An Act for establishing certain Regulations for the better Management of the Affairs of the East India Company as well in India as in Europe); and such Depositions, being duly taken and returned according to the true Intent and Meaning of this Act, shall be allowed and read, and shall be deemed as good and competent Evidence as if such Witnesses had been present and sworn, and examined vivâ voce at any Trial for such Misdemeanors and Offences as aforesaid in Her Majesty's said Court of Queen's Bench, any Law or Usage to the contrary thereof notwithstanding.