1809: 49 George 3 c.6: An Act for the Relief of Prisoners in Custody for Non-payment of Money pursuant to Orders of Courts of Equity.
[13th March 1809.]
‘WHEREAS it is just and highly expedient that the Benefit of an Act passed in the Thirty-second Year of the Reign of his late Majesty King George the Second,
[32 G. 2. c. 28.]
intituled An Act for Relief of Debtors with respect to the Imprisonment of their Persons, and to oblige Debtors, who shall continue in Execution in Prison beyond a certain Time, and for Sums not exceeding what are mentioned in the Act, to make Discovery of and deliver upon Oath, their Estates for their Creditors Benefit; and of an Act passed in the Thirty-third Year of the Reign of His present Majesty,
intituled An Act for the further Relief of Debtors with respect to the Imprisonment of their Persons. and to oblige Debtors, who shall continue in Execution in Prison beyond a certain Time, and for Sums not exceeding what are mentioned in the Act, to make Discovery of and deliver upon Oath, their Estates for their Creditors Benefit; and of an Act, passed in the Thirty-seventh Year of the Reign of His present Majesty,
[37 G. 3. c. 85.]
intituled “An Act to amend so much of an Act, made in the Thirty second Year of the Reign of King George the Second, intituled ‘An Act for the Relief of Debtors with respect to the Imprisonment of their Persons, and to oblige Debtors, who shall continue in Execution in Prison beyond a certain Time, and for Sums not exceeding what are mentioned in the Act, to make Discovery of, and deliver upon Oath, their Estates for their Creditors Benefit’ as relates to the Weekly Sums thereby directed to be paid to Prisoners in Execution for Debt, in the Cases therein mentioned;” should be extended to Prisoners in Custody for Contempt of Court, by not paying Money ordered to be paid by Decrees or Orders of Courts of Equity;’ Be it therefore enacted by the King’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the Authority of the same,
[Persons in Custody for Contempt of Courts of Equity for Non-payment of Money or Costs, shall be entitled to the Benefit of the recited Acts.]
That from and after the passing of this Act, all Persons who are or shall be in Custody for Contempt of any Court of Equity, by not paying any Sum or Sums of Money or Costs, ordered to be paid by any Decree or Order of any such Court, shall be entitled to the Benefit of the said several Acts of Parliament, and shall be subject to all the same Terms and Conditions as are therein expressed and declared with respect to Prisoners for Debt only; and that it shall be lawful for Persons now in Custody for such Contempt to make Application for Relief under the said Acts of Parliament, at any Time before the End of Michaelmas Term next.
Source: Butterworths Statutes of the United Kingdom, 1809.