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71
was carried to a successful issue, fines being inflicted to the
amount of £125. The other case, which had long been
under observation, was taken under the Criminal Law
Amendment Act of last session, but the prosecution was
rendered abortive in consequence of the offender becoming
incapable of pleading.
The Vestry regarded with some satisfaction the passing of
the Criminal Law Amendment Bill, in support of which thev
had petitioned more than once. The clause relating to the
summary prosecution of brothel keepers, however, was
weakened by the addition of an ambiguous provision which
appears to render the proceedings subject to the formality of
the old law.*
It may be remarked that by joining in the prosecution a
householder incurs no pecuniary liability, and in the great
majority of cases need not give evidence at the Sessions.
Still it is useless to deny that many people entertain some
objection to being associated in any manner with proceedings
of the kind, and the Vestry therefore hope that at no distant
date, Parliament will confer upon Local Authorities power to
prosecute in such cases. As a safeguard against the
possibility of a Local Authority neglecting this duty, concurrent
power might be reserved to two householders as at
present. As one instance of the necessity of some reform in
the procedure, it may be mentioned that the Vestry Clerk
was in possession of abundant evidence to justify proceedings
against the keeper of certain premises which subsequently
became notorious in what was known as the Armstrong
Abduction case, but owing to the reluctance ot the neighbouring
householders to lay an information, no action was
taken. If the Vestry Clerk, or some other officer, could
initiate proceedings in his public capacity, without requiring
• In a recent judgment in the Queen's Bench Division, it was held that
the old form of procedure does not apply to summary prosecutions under
the Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1885 (Kerwin v. Hines, 50 J.P., 212)
proceedings by way of indictment continue subject to the former practice.