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Power to summon Witnesses, and Persons refusing to give Evidence to be punished.
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LVI. And be it enacted, That it shall be lawful for the said Commissioners of Public Works, upon any Inquiry or Proceeding to be had by or before them under any of the Provisions of this Act, to summon and examine upon Oath or Affirmation any Person whomsoever; and if any Person so summoned, having been paid or tendered a sufficient Sum Of Money, to be ascertained by the said Commissioners, to defray the Charges for 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 affirm (as the Case may be), or to be examined and give Evidence touching the Premises, the said Commissioners; upon Proof upon Oath of the Service of such Summons and of such Tender, shall be authorized by Warrant under their Common Seal 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, or to affirm or give Evidence, rendering the Overplus (if any), upon Demand, to the Person whose Goods and Chattels shall have been distrained and sold, after deducting the Costs and Charges attending such Distress and Sale; and the Monies so to be levied as aforesaid shall be applied for such Purposes and in such Manner as the said Commissioners may direct.
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