Sale of Salt Act 1697

II. Two Justices of Peace may determine Offences.

Appeal to Quarter Sessions,; Final.; How Justices to proceed on Complaint.; Forfeitures to be levied on Offender's Goods.; For Want of Distress, Imprisonment.

And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid That the Forfeitures and Offences made and co[m]mitted against this Act or any thing therein contained shall be heard adjudged and determined by any Two or more Justices of the Peace residing neare to the Place where such Forfeiture shall be made or Offence co[m]mitted who are hereby required to heare adjudge and determine the same and if the Party finds him or her selfe agrieved by the Judgement given by the said Justices the said Party shall and may appeal to the Justices of Peace att the next General Quarter Sessions of the Peace to be held for the County City or Borough within which the said Forfeiture was made and the Offence co[m]mitted who are hereby also impowered and authorized to heare and determine the same whose Judgement therein shall be final and all Justices of the Peace are hereby authorized and required upon Complaint or Information exhibited or brought to them or any of them of any Forfeiture made or Offence co[m]mitted contrary to this Act to su[m]mon the Party accused and upon his or her Appearance or Contempt to proceed to the Examination of the Matter of Fact and upon due Proof made thereof by the Oath of Two or more credible Witnesses (which Oath any Two or more Justices of the Peace have hereby Power to administer) or by the voluntary Confession of the Party to give Judgement or Sentence according as in and by this Act is directed and to award and issue out Warrants under their Hands and Seals for the levying of such Forfeitures as by this Act is imposed upon the Goods and Chattells of the Offender and to cause sale to be made of the said Goods and Chattells if the same shall not be redeemed within Six Days rendring to the Party the Overplus (if any be) and for want of sufficient Distresse to imprison the Party offending until Satisfaction be made for the Forfeitures.