INDICTMENTS

Main series:

Formal charges drafted (in Latin until 1733) by the clerk of the peace, on parchment. Some are based on presentments. At this period, indictments seldom relate to serious offences, since these went to the Assizes. The particulars given are names, occupations and parishes of persons indicted, parish where alleged offence was committed, brief details of offence including description of property stolen, name of person assaulted or robbed. Endorsed with: (a) names of prosecutor and witnesses, (b) billa vera or ignoramus (i.e. the finding of the grand jury which decided whether proceedings were to go forward on the indictment as a 'true bill', or to be stopped because 'we do not know'). There are also presentments, by individual justices, of highways in disrepair, and a few presentments of the grand jury, mostly for nuisances, which were equivalent to indictments, with signatures of the jurors. Usually the plea (cul'(i.e. culpabilis (guilty)). or non cul'), verdict, and assessment of value (in theft cases) are briefly noted by the clerk of the peace at the foot of the indictment. At Epiph. Sessions, 1758 there are many indictments for riots against the Militia Act and for burning militia rolls.

The following is an example of the form of Indictment: 'Gloucester To witt

The Jurors for our Lord the King upon their oath present that Henry Barrow late of Rodborough in the County aforesaid labourer and Anne his wife the thirtyeth day of August in the seventh yeare of the reign of his present Majesty King George the Second with force and arms and so forth at Chaffenage [Chavenage] in the county aforesaid one Hempen Sheet of the value of two shillings and sixpence of the goods and chattells of Richard Stephens Esquire then and there found then and there did feloniously steal take and carry away against the peace of our said present Lord the King his Crown and Dignity

Pleads not guilty, the Jury say that they are both guilty to the value of 6d.'

Indictments in riot cases 1837-1867:

Removed from indictment files which have been destroyed. Many of these relate to very minor village disturbances, occasioned by resistance to conatbles making arrests or bailiffs making distraints