1 141 of these cases were prosecutions for violations of the License Law. 254 of these cases are returned as cases in which no bills were found by the Grand Jury; but the class or classes of offences of which there was suspicion, is, or are not, enumerated. MIDDLE DISTRICT. In this district, as well as in the northern and western, there were many prosecutions for nuisances; and there are several for malicious mischief. There was one, in Norfolk County, against two persons, for "kidnapping;" and one against the Boston and Worcester Rail-road Company, for "causing the death of a passenger." This latter is still pending. In Worcester County, an indictment for murder, and another for rape, were found against the same person; who having been convicted and sentenced to death on the former, the latter was placed on file. Three writs of scire facias were entered in this district, and are still pending. Six cases upon writs of error, and eight upon questions of law, reserved, were heard and decided in the S. J. Court. The following is a statement of the cases of punishment, by confinement, during the year last past, in this district: Separate cases against three individuals, to the number of 61 in all, were brought before the Court of Common Pleas, upon appeals from justices. They were all for violations of the license law. Those against one of the three persons stand continued. The costs paid by the Commonwealth on those against the other two, amount to $306 20. Cases against these two latter were taken to the S. J. Court, and the report concerning them there, is, "continued for sentence.' 261 persons were prosecuted, in this district, during the year 1844. 168 of these cases were pending at the beginning of the year 1814; 20 of them were appeals from the decisions of Justices of the Peace, and 129 of them were for breaches of the License Law. |