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Wills or codicils.
Other remedies not to be affected.
Compulsory disclosure of offence by offender in judicial proceedings.
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29. Whosoever shall, either during the life of the testator or after his death, steal, or for any fraudulent purpose destroy, cancel, obliterate, or conceal, the whole or any part of any will, codicil, or other testamentary instrument, whether the same shall relate to real or personal estate, or to both, shall be guilty of felony, and being convicted thereof shall be liable . . . to be kept in penal servitude for life . . .; and it shall not in any indictment for such offence be necessary to allege that such will, codicil, or other instrument is the property of any person: Provided, that nothing in this or the last preceding section mentioned, nor any proceeding, conviction, or judgment to be had or taken thereupon, shall prevent, lessen, or impeach any remedy at law or in equity which any party aggrieved by any such offence might or would have had if this Act had not been passed; but no conviction of any such offender shall be received in evidence in any action at law or suit in equity against him; and no person shall be liable to be convicted of any of the felonies in this and the last preceding section mentioned, by any evidence whatever, in respect of any act done by him, if he shall at any time previously to his being charged with such offence have first disclosed such act, on oath, in consequence of any compulsory process of any court of law or equity in any action, suit, or proceeding which shall have been bonâ fide instituted by any party aggrieved, or if he shall have first disclosed the same in any compulsory examination or deposition before any court upon the hearing of any matter in bankruptcy or insolvency.
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