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Gazette Of The United States
Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
What is this article about?
On Prairial 30 (June 18, 1794), the French Convention passed a decree imposing the death penalty for willful homicide and qualified murder, replacing prior 20-year imprisonment. It details arrest by justices or gendarmes, trials by criminal tribunals with juror verdicts, no appeals, and execution within 24 hours. Extract from Moniteur.
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CRIMINAL CODE.
The Convention on Prairial 30 (June 18,) passed the following Decree:
I. In future all acts of wilful homicide, qualified murder, shall be punished with death. This law is a derogation from the article in the Penal Code, which condemns that crime to the punishment of twenty years imprisonment in fetters.
II. In case of murder or assassination, the guilty Shall be arrested by orders of the Justice of Peace, or an Officer of the Gens d'Armes, and brought to be tried by a Criminal Tribunal.
III. In default of a Justice of Peace, the National Agent, or the Municipality, shall fulfill this function.
IV. The Public Accuser Shall draw up an Act of Accusation, if necessary. If the accusation is not made out, the latter has no authority to discharge the prisoner, without the consent of the Tribunal.
V. A List of Jurors shall be drawn up, who shall give the verdicts by a majority of votes. The sentences to be executed within 24 hours; no appeal in criminal cases.
VI. All Administrations, Municipal Officers, and Military Commanders shall put in execution the present Decree. The Civil and Military Officers, who should neglect the execution of it, are to be dismissed from their places.
VII. The 5th title of the Law of 8th Nivose, respecting the Revolutionary Code, shall be executed by the Tribunals, as far as it should not be contrary to the principles of this Decree.
(Extract from the Moniteur.)
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Where did it happen?
Foreign News Details
Primary Location
Paris
Event Date
Prairial 30 (June 18)
Outcome
death penalty established for willful homicide and qualified murder; sentences executed within 24 hours with no appeals.
Event Details
The Convention passed a decree derogating from the Penal Code to punish willful homicide and qualified murder with death instead of 20 years imprisonment. Procedures include arrest by Justice of Peace or Gens d'Armes officers, trial by Criminal Tribunal with juror verdicts by majority, public accuser drawing up accusations, and enforcement by administrations, municipalities, and military commanders. References the Law of 8th Nivose for Revolutionary Code where not contrary.