Murder Act 1751
| Jurisdiction | UK Non-devolved |
| Citation | 1751 c. 37 |
| Year | 1751 |
(25 Geo. 2) C A P. XXXVII.
'W H E R E A S the horrid Crime of Murder has of late been more frequently perpetrated than formerly, and particularly in and near the Metropolis of this Kingdom, contrary to the known Humanity and natural Genius of theBritish Nation: And whereas it is thereby become necessary, that some further Terror and peculiar Mark of Infamy be added to the Punishment of Death, now by Law inflicted on such as shall be guilty of the said heinous Offence;' May it please your most Excellent Majesty that it may be enacted; and be it 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 Authorityof the same, That from and after the first Day ofEaster Term in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and fifty-two, all Persons who shall be found guilty of wilful Murder, be executed according to Law, on the Day next but one after Sentence passed, unless the same shall happen to be the Lord's Day, commonly called Sunday , and in that Case on the Monday following.
II and their Bodies to be delivered to Surgeons Hall.
II. And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That the Body of such Murderer so convicted shall, if such Conviction and Execution shall be in the County ofMiddlesex , or within the City of London or the Liberties thereof, be immediately conveyed by the Sheriff or Sheriffs, his or their Deputy or Deputies, and his or their Officers, to the Hall of the Surgeons Company , or such other Place as the said Company shall appoint for this Purpose, and be delivered to such Person as the said Company shall depute or appoint, who shall give to the Sheriff or Sheriffs, his or their Deputy or Deputies, a Receipt for the same; and the Body so delivered to the said Company of Surgeons , shall be dissected and anatomized by the said Surgeons , or such Person as they shall appoint for that Purpose: And in case such Conviction and Execution shall happen to be in any other County or other Place in Great Britain , then the Judge or Justice of Assize, or other proper Judge, shall award the Sentence to be put in Execution the next Day but one after such Conviction (except as is before excepted) and the Body of such Murderer shall in like Manner be delivered by the Sheriff, or his Deputy, and his Officers, to such Surgeon as such Judge or Justice shall direct for the Purpose aforesaid.
III Sentence to be pronounced immediately.
III. And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That Sentence shall be pronounced in open Court immediately after the Conviction of such Murderer, and before the Court shall proceed to any other Business, unless the Court shall see...
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