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  4. Document 423

No. 419.
Mr. Bingham to Mr. Evarts.

Legation of the United States,
Tokei, Japan, December 21, 1880. (Received January 17.)
No. 1226.]

Sir: Referring to your instruction No. 535, in relation to the sentence in the case of Q’Neil, convicted of the crime of manslaughter in the United States consular court at Hiogo, I have the honor to acquaint you that, in accordance with your instructions, I have ordered and decreed, in pursuance of the statute, the amendment of section 22, title Criminal Proceedings, of the Regulations for the Consular Courts of the United States of America in Japan, adopted November 16, 1870, a copy of which amendment I have the honor to inclose herewith. I have, as provided by the statute, submitted the revised amendment to our several consuls for their approval, and have been advised by Mr. Consul-General Van Buren that he has indorsed thereon his assent, and has transmitted it to our other consular officers in Japan for their approval.

I have, &c.,

JNO. A. BINGHAM.
[Inclosure in No. 1226.]

United States Legation.

Tokei, Japan, December 11, 1880.

It is hereby ordered and decreed that section 22 of the title “Criminal Proceedings.” in the “Regulations for the Consular Courts of the United States of America in Japan,” adopted November 16, 1870, be and the same is hereby amended, so that the same shall read as follows:

The punishment of persons convicted of crimes in the courts of the United States in this empire, except in such cases as are otherwise provided for by law, shall be as follows:

Murder shall be punishable by death; manslaughter shall be punishable by imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years, and by a fine not exceeding $1,000; all other felonies shall be punished as provided by the laws of the United States of America, and for misdemeanors at common law the punishment shall be by fine not exceeding $500, or by imprisonment not exceeding six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment, at the discretion of the court.

[l. s.]
JNO. A. BINGHAM,
Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the
United States of America.