A.D. 1777
Writs of Error, Court of Oyer and Terminer, Court of Admiralty, Inferior or County Court, or any Court of Record that ſhall be eſtablished in this State, or before any Commiſſioner or Commiſſioners authorized to take Depoſitions to be given in Evidence in any ſuch Court, or who ſhall in the Manner, or by any the Means aforeſaid, unlawfully and corruptly procure or ſuborn any Witneſs or Witneſſes, which ſhall from and after the ſaid Tenth Day of May be ſworn to give Teſtimony for the Purpoſe or perpetuating the ſame, every ſuch Offender of the ſame, being lawfully convicted in any Court having Cognizance thereof, ſhall ſtand in the Pillory one Hour, have his or her right Ear nailed thereunto, and be further puniſhed by Fine and Impriſonment, at the Diſcretion of the Court; and every ſuch Offender ſhall be diſcredited, and diſallowed for ever to be ſworn as a Witneſs in any Courts of Record, before Commiſſioners, or ſworn to give Teſtimony for the Purpoſe of perpetuating the ſame as aforeſaid.
For ſuborning or committing Perjury. II. AND be it Enacted, by the Authority aforeſaid, That every Perſon who ſhall after the ſaid Tenth Day of May, either by the Subornation, unlawful Procurement, ſiniſter Perſuaſion or Means of any other, or by his or her own Act, Conſent or Agreement, wilfully and coprruptly commit any Manner of wilful Perjury by his or her Depoſition, in any of the Courts before mentioned, or when being examined before Commiſſioner or Commiſſioners authorized to take Depoſitions to be given in Evidence in ſuch Court, or when examined for the Purpoſe of perpetuating Teſtimony, every ſuch Offender of the ſame, being lawfully convicted in any Court having Cognizance thereof, ſhall ſtand in the Pillory One Hour, having his or her Ears nailed during the whole Time; and at the Expiration of the ſaid Hour both Ears of the Offender ſhall be cut off and ſevered from the Head, leaving them nailed on the Pillory until the ſetting of the Sun; and the Offender ſhall be diſcredited, and diſallowed for ever to be ſworn as a Witneſs in any Court of this State, before Commiſſioners, or for the Purpoſe of perpetuating Teſtimony.
For committing Perjury in any Court. III. AND be it Enacted, by the Authority aforeſaid, That ever Perſon who ſhall after the ſaid Tenth Day of May, in any of the Courts aforeſaid, or when examined before any Commiſſioner or Commiſſioners, or for the Purpoſe of perpetuating Teſtimony, commit or make any falſe, wilful, corrupt Affirmation, in the Mode of Affirmation uſed, or that ſhall be uſed by the Quakers, Moravians, and Menoniſts, every ſuch Offender of the ſame, being lawfully convicted in any Court having Cognizance thereof, ſhall ſuffer all the Pains, Diſabilities, and Puniſhments, which by this Act are ordained for wilful corrupt Perjuryl and alſo ever Perſon who ſhall ſuborn, or unlawfully procure, any ſuch falſe, wilful, and corrupt Affirmation, to be committed or made, ſhall ſuffer all the Pains, Diſabilities, and Puniſhments, which by the this Act are ordained for the unlawful Procurement and Subornation of wilful Perjury.
CHAP.
