General Gaol Delivery

In English Law. One of the four commissions issued to judges holding the assizes, which 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. It was anciently the course to issue special writs of gaol delivery for each prisoner, which were called writs de bono et malo; but, these being found inconvenient and oppressive, a general commission for all the prisoners has long been established in their stead. 4 Steph. Com. 333; 2 Hawk. PI. Cr. 14, 28. Under this authority It was necessary that the gaol be cleared and delivered of all prisoners in it, whenever or before whomever indicted or for whatever crime. Such deliverance took place when the person is either acquitted, convicted, or sen* tenced to punishment. Bract. 110. See Courts of Oyer and TaRMUfiEB and Gbnbrai. Gaol Dblivbby; Gaol Dblivbry; Assizb.

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."

Defined under Gaol Delivery in Black's Law Dictionary.

In English law. At the assizes (g. 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 ihe circuit town, whether an indictment has been preferred ab any previous assizeor not. 4 Bl. Comm. 270.