Common Law Procedure Act 1852

XXIII Affidavits in certain Cases may be sworn before a Consul.

Any Affidavit for the Purpose of enabling the Court or a Judge to direct Proceedings to be taken against a Defendant residing out of the Jurisdiction of the said Courts may be sworn before any Consul General, Consul, Vice-Consul, or Consular Agent for the Time being, appointed by Her Majesty at any Foreign Port or Place; and every Affidavit so sworn by virtue of this Act may be used and shall be admitted in Evidence, saving all just Exceptions, provided it purport to be signed by such Consul General, Consul, Vice-Consul, or Consular Agent, upon Proof of the official Character and Signature of the Person appearing to have signed the same: Provided always, that if any Person shall forge the Signature of any such Affidavit, or shall use or tender in Evidence any such Affidavit with a false or counterfeit Signature thereto, knowing the same to be false or counterfeit, he shall be guilty of Felony, and shall upon Conviction be liable to Transportation for Seven Years, or to Imprisonment for any Term not exceeding Three Years, nor less than One Year, with Hard Labour; and every Person who shall be charged with committing any Felony under this Act may be dealt with, indicted, tried, and, if convicted, sentenced, and his Offence may be laid and charged to have been committed in the County or Place in which he shall be apprehended or be in Custody ; and every Accessory before or after the Fact to any such Offence may be dealt with, indicted, tried, and, if convicted, sentenced, and his Offence may be laid and charged to have been committed, in any County or Place in which the principal Offender may be tried: Provided also, that if any Person shall wilfully and corruptly make a false Affidavit before such Consul General, Consul, Vice-Consul, or Consular Agent, every Person so offending shall be deemed and taken to be guilty of Perjury, in like Manner as if such false Affidavit had been made in England before competent Authority, and shall and may be dealt with, indicted, tried, and, if convicted, sentenced, and his Offence may be laid and charged to have been committed, in any County or Place in which he shall be apprehended or be in Custody, as if his Offence had been actually committed in that County or Place.