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After Examination of the Accused, Justice to read Depositions taken against him, and caution him as to any Statement he may make;
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and inform him that he has nothing to hope or fear from either Promise or Threat.
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XVIII. And be it enacted, That after the Examination of all the Witnesses on the Part of the Prosecution as aforesaid shall have been completed, the Justice of the Peace or One of the Justices by or before whom such Examination shall have been so completed as aforesaid shall, without requiring the Attendance of the Witnesses, read or cause to be read to the Accused the Depositions taken against him, and shall say to him these Words, or Words to the like Effect: “Having heard the Evidence, do you wish to say anything in answer to the Charge? you are not obliged to say anything unless you desire to do so, but whatever you say will be taken down in Writing, and may be given in Evidence against you upon your Trial;” and whatever the Prisoner shall then say in answer thereto shall be taken down in Writing (N.) and read over to him, and shall be signed by the said Justice or Justices, and kept with the Depositions of the Witnesses, and shall be transmitted with them as herein-after mentioned, and afterwards upon the Trial of the said accused Person the same may, if necessary, be given in Evidence against him, without further Proof thereof, if the same purport to be signed by the Justice or Justices by or before whom the same purports to have been taken, unless it shall be proved that the Justice or Justices purporting to sign the same did not in fact sign the same: Provided always, that the said Justice or Justices before such accused Person shall make any Statement shall state to him, and give him clearly to understand, that he has nothing to hope from any Promise of Favour and nothing to fear from any Threat which may have been holden out to him to induce him to make any Admission or Confession of his Guilt, but that whatever he shall then say may be given in Evidence against him upon his Trial, notwithstanding such Promise or Threat: Provided nevertheless, that nothing herein enacted or contained shall prevent the Prosecutor in any Case from giving in Evidence any Admission or Confession or other Statement of the Person accused or charged, made at any Time, which by Law would be admissible as Evidence against such Person.
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