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Mode of proceeding before Justices.
Distress how to be levied;
not unlawful for Want of Form.
Form of Conviction.
Justices, though Commissioners, may act under this Act.
Penalty on Persons giving false Evidence.
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XCI. In proceeding before any Justice or Justices under the Provisions of this Act, in any Case in which the Mode of Proceeding is not specially prescribed, any One Justice may summon the Party charged to appear before the Justice or Justices by whom the Matter is to be determined, at a Time and Place to be named; and upon the Appearance of the Party charged, or in his Absence upon Proof of Service of the Summons upon him personally, or by leaving a Copy thereof at his last known Place of Abode or Business, the last-mentioned Justice or Justices may hear and determine the Matter, and for that Purpose examine the Parties or any of them, and their Witnesses, on Oath; and the Costs of all such Proceedings shall be in the Discretion of the last-mentioned Justice or Justices; and where in this Act any Sum of Money whatsoever is directed to be levied by Distress and Sale of the Goods and Chattels of any Party, the Overplus arising from such Sale shall, after satisfying such Sum, and the Costs and Expenses of the Distress and Sale, be returned to him, on Demand; and no Distress levied under the Authority of this Act shall be unlawful, nor shall any Party making the same be a Trespasser, on account of any Defect or Want of Form in the Summons, Conviction, Warrant of Distress, or other Proceeding relating thereto, nor shall he be a Trespasser ab initio on account of any Irregularity afterward committed by him, but all Persons aggrieved by such Defect or Irregularity may recover full Satisfaction in an Action upon the Case; and the Justices before whom any Person is convicted of any Offence against the Provisions of this Act may cause the Conviction to be drawn up according to the Form and Directions contained in the Schedule (C.) annexed to this Act, or to the like Effect; and any Conviction so drawn up shall be valid and effectual; and Justices of the Peace, being Commissioners or liable to Assessment under this Act, may, if acting in Petty Sessions, notwithstanding their being such Commissioners, exercise the Jurisdiction vested in them as such Justices under this Act. Every Person who, upon any Examination upon Oath under the Provisions of this Act, shall wilfully give false Evidence, shall be liable to Punishment for Perjury.
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