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Persons summoned by Commissioners, and refusing to give Evidence, to be punished.
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CXXIV. And be it enacted, That it shall be lawful for the said Commissioners, upon any Inquiry or Proceeding to be had before them under any of the Provisions of this Act, to summon and examine upon Oath or Affirmation (which Oath or Affirmation the Commissioners are hereby empowered to administer) any Person whomsoever; and if any Person having been so summoned before the said Commissioners to give Evidence touching any Matter to be inquired into under this Act, and having been paid or tendered a sufficient Sum of Money, to be ascertained by the said Commissioners, to defray the Charges of his Attendance, shall not appear before the said Commissioners, pursuant to such Summons, without assigning some reasonable Excuse for not appearing, or shall refuse to be sworn or to be examined and give Evidence touching the Premises, the said Commissioners, upon Proof thereof upon Oath, shall and they are hereby authorized, by Warrant under their Hands and Seals, to direct any Person whomsoever to cause any Sum of Money, not exceeding Five Pounds, to be levied by Distress and Sale of the Goods and Chattels of the Person so neglecting or refusing to appear or to be sworn and give Evidence, rendering the Overplus (if any), upon Demand, to the Person whose Goods and Chattels shall have been so distrained and sold, after deducting the Costs and Charges attending such Distress and Sale; and the Monies so to be levied aforesaid shall be considered as Part of the Monies directed to be raised for carrying this Act into execution, and shall be applied accordingly; and all Persons who shall wilfully give false shall be applied accordingly; and all Persons who shall wilfully give false Evidence, or otherwise forswear themselves in any such Examination, may be prosecuted for same, and upon Conviction thereof shall be liable to the same Pains and Penalties as Persons guilty of wilful and corrupt Perjury are now liable to by Law.
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