This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1882 Excerpt: ... deputies. In this year the Government promised to take up the subject. Their pledge was, in some degree, redeemed in the session of 1879, when the 42 & 43 Vict. c. 22, under which the office of Director of Public Prosecutions for England and Wales was created, became law. The first appointment to the new office was made in the person of Mr. Maule, O.C, It is at present an experiment, but it 86 Law of Evidence. is hoped that there will be an extension of the machinery so as in time to render private prosecutions in criminal matters unnecessary in all cases. 25. Law of Evidence.25--The Law Amendment Society and the Association have on many occasions actively promoted amendments in the law of evidence by assisting in the removal of restrictions on the admissibility of testimony. The Act abolishing the rule which forbade the admission of a witness because he might be infinitesimally interested in the matter in dispute was Lord Denman's Act, the 6 & 7 Vict. c. 85, passed in 1843; and this was the most important of the initiatory steps taken in the path of a reform of our law of evidence. The preamble of this Act, which set forth that' it is desirable that full information as to the facts in issue, both in criminal and in civil cases, should be laid before the persons who are appointed to decide upon them, ' enunciated 13 Transactions, i860, pp. 251, 266; 1861, p. 252; 1863, pp. 172, 233; 1864, p. 303; 1865, pp. 133, 237; 1866, pp. 19, 36, 117; 1867, pp. 227, 291; 1869, p. xxxiii.; 1872, p. 109; 1874, p. 186; 1875, pp. 143, 260; 1876, pp. xxxv., 152. Sessional Papers, 1865, p. 13. Sessional Proceedings, vol. i., p. 253; vol. ii., pp. 314, 438; vol. v., pp. 223, 271. Law Magazine, vol. xxiv., p. 212. Law of Evidence. 8 7 the true principle which should reg...