Escape of Debtors, etc. Act 1696

IX. Marshal, &c. refusing to give a Note whether a Person be Prisoner or not, Penalty £50.

Such Note sufficient Evidence of Person being a Prisoner.

And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid That if any Person or Persons whatsoever desireing to charge any Person with any Action or Execution shall desire to be informed by the said Marshal or Warden or their respective Deputy or Deputies or by any other Keeper or Keepers of any other Prison or Prisons whether such Person be a Prisoner in his Custody or not the said Marshal or Warden or such other Keeper or Keepers of any other Prison or Prisons shall give a true Note in writing thereof to the Person so requesting the same or to his lawfull Attorney upon demand att his Office for that purpose or in default thereof shall forfeit the Su[m]m of Fifty pounds and if such Marshal or Warden or their respective Deputy or Deputies exercising the said Office or other Keeper or Keepers of any other Prison or Prisons shall give a Note in Writing that such Person is an actual Prisoner in his or their Custody every such Note shall be accepted and taken as a sufficient Evidence that such Person was att that time a Prisoner in actual Custody.