PRINCIPLES

OF

THE CRIMINAL LAW.

A CONCISE EXPOSITION OF THE NATURE OF CRIME,
THE VARIOUS OFFENCES PUNISHABLE BY THE ENGLISH LAW,
THE LAW OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE,

AND THE LAW OF SUMMARY CONVICTIONS.

WITH

TABLE OF OFFENCES, THEIR PUNISHMENTS AND STATUTES;
TABLES OF CASES, STATUTES, &c.

BY

SEYMOUR F. HARRIS, B.C.L., M.A. (Oxon.),

AUTHOR OF A CONCISE DIGEST OF THE INSTITUTES OF GAIUS AND JUSTINIAN.'

SECOND EDITION.

REVISED BY THE AUTHOR

AND

F. P. TOMLINSON, M.A.,

LATE SCHOLAR OF TRINITY COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE; OF THE INNER TEMPLE,
AND OF THE NORTHERN CIHOUT BARRISTER-AT-LAW.

GA

MAY 181

BODLEIANA

LONDON:

STEVENS AND HAYNES,

Law Publishers,

BELL YARD, TEMPLE BAR.

1881.

LONDON:

PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, LIMITED,

STAMFORD STREET AND CHARING CROSS.

PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION,

THE appearance of a new work on the Criminal Law may demand a few words of explanation. Many treatises dealing with this subject are already in existence. Why another? A mere enumeration of the modern standard authors will disclose the want of a manual which neither confines itself to the historical and philosophical view of the matter, nor descends into the minute particulars of the practice of the law. To mention those that are best known:-'Russell on Crimes' is contained in three bulky volumes, and has little concern with criminal procedure. Archbold's and Roscoe's Criminal Practice, entering into every detail, are designed for the reference of the practitioner, when points actually present themselves. The modern commentaries founded on those of Blackstone stray into historical disquisitions which are apt to envelop the existing law in obscurity; and, besides, the Criminal Law is contained in one of four volumes. Sir James Fitzjames Stephen's General View of Criminal Law' does not profess to be an exposition of the offences and criminal procedure of our country: it has quite another object.

It seems, then, that there is scope for a comparatively small treatise concerning itself with the nature of crimes, the various offences punished by the law, and the proceedings which are instituted to secure that punishment. Such a work is calculated to meet the requirements of the young practitioner, who, in the first instance, wants a general introduction to the subject. It is also designed for the use of students, especially those preparing for the final examination of the Incorporated Law Society. To such, as well as to the general reader, it is hoped that the present undertaking will commend itself.