Gaol delivery

In English Law. To insure the trial, within a certain time, of all prisoners, a patent, in the nature of a letter, was issued from the king to certain persons, appointing them his justices and authorizing them to deliver his gaols. 3 Bla. Com. 60; 4 id. 269. This was the humblest of the temporary judicial commissions so frequent in the fourteenth century; 1 Poll. & Maitl. 179; hut so few men were kept in prison, that the work was regarded as easy work which might be entrusted to knights of the shire; 2 id. 642. See Genebal Gaol Deliv- EBY: Oyer and Tebmineb.

In criminal law. The delivery or clearing of a gaol of the prisoners confined therein, by trying them. In popular speech, the clearing of a gaol by the escape of the prisoners.

— General gaol delivery. In English law. At the assizes (q. v.) the judges sit by virtue of five several authorities, one of which is the commission of "general gaol delivery." This empowers them to try and deliverance make of every prisoner who shall be in the gaol when the judges arrive at the circuit town, whether an indictment has been preferred at any previous assize or not 4 Bl. Comm. 270. This is also a part of the title of some American criminni courts, as, in Pennsylvania, the "court of oyer and terminer and general jail delivery."

In criminal law. The delivery or clearing of a gacl of the pris- Nn oners confined therein, by trying them. A cominission of general gaol delivery is one of the four commissions under which the judges in England sit at the assizes; and it empowers thein to try and deliver every prisoner who shall be in the gaol, (that is, cither in actual custody, or out on bail,) when the judges arrive at the circuit town, 4 Chit. Bl. 270, and notes; 4 Steph. Comm. 833; 1 Chit. Crim. Law, 145, 146.

The emptying of a gaol V. Assize, Be bono et malo. Gaol a gaol through which prisoners are giving security to return.

[L. Fr. deliveraunce de gaole.'] In criminal law. The delivery or clearing of a gaol of the prisoners confined therein, by trying them; the gaol being considered as delivered by their acquittal or punishment. Ad gaolam deliberandam de illis qui inprisona — inveniuntur. Bract, fol. 110. A commission of general gaol delivery is one of the four commissions under which the judges in England sit at the assizes; and it empowers them to try and deliver every prisoner who shall be in the gaol, (that is either in actual custody, or out on bail,) when the judges arrive at the circuit town. 4 Chitt. Bl. Com. 270, and notes. 4 Steph. Com. 333. 1 Chitt. Crim. Law, 146, 146. The higjher criminal courts in England and the United States are called courts of Oyer and Terminer, and general gaol delivery. GAOL LIBERTIES (or LIMITS.) A certain extent of ground around or conti* guous to a gaol, and designated by certain lines or boundaries, within which the persons confined are allowed to go at large on giving security not to escape; being, in contemplation of law, a mere extension of the gaol itself, as a matter of indulgence to the prisoners.* 6 Johns. B.121. 2 Term B. 26.

Eng. law. To insure the trial, within a certain time, of all prisoners, a patent in the nature of a letter is issued from the king to certain persons, appointing them his justices, and authorising them to deliver his gaols. Cromp. Jurisd. 125; 4 Inst. 168; 4 BI. Com. 269; 2 Hale, P. C. 22, 32; 2 Hawk. P. C. 14, 28. Inthe United States, the judges of the criminal courts are required to cause the acthe constitutions require’ a speedy trial.