An Act to prevent the cutting off, or depriving any Slaves in this Island of any of their Limbs or Members, or otherwise disabling them.

Whereas some persons have of late been guilty of cutting off, or depriving Slaves of their Ears, which Practice is contrary to the Principles of Humanity, and dishonourable to Society. For prevention whereof in future, be it enacted by the Governor in Chief of the Islands of Saint Christopher and Nevis, and the Council and Assembly of the Island of Saint Christopher, That if any Person or Possessor of any Negro, or other Slave in this Island, shall willfully and wantonly cut out or disable, or cause or procure to be cut out or disabled, the Tongue, put out, or cause or procure to be put out, an Eye, slit the Nose, Ear, or Lip, or cut off a Nose, Ear, or Lip, or cause the same to be done, or break, or cause or procure to be broken, the Arm, Leg, or any other Limb or Member, of any Negro, or other Slave in this Island, such Owner or Possessor shall, on due Conviction thereof, in any COUrt of Record in this Island, forfeit and pay the Sum of five hundred Pounds current Money, and suffer six Months Imprisonment in the common Gaol on this Island; and for Want of sufficient to pay the same, shall suffer Twelve Months Imprisonment in the common Gaol of this Island, One Half to the Treasurer of this Island. 

And be it enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That any Person who shall willfully and wantonly cut out or disable, or cause or procure to be cut out or disabled, the Tongue, put out or cause or procure to be put out, an Eye, or slit the Nose, Ear, or Lip, or cut off a Nose, Ear, or Lip of any Negro or other Slave, or cause or procure the same to be done, or break, or cause of procure to be broken, the Arm, Leg, or any other Limb, of any Negro or other Slave not belonging to such Person, such Person, so offending shall, on due Conviction, thereof, in any Court of Record in this Island, forfeit and pay the Sum of Five Hundred Pounds current Money of the said Island, and suffer Six Months Imprisonment in the common Gaol of this Island; and for Want of Sufficient to pay the same, shall suffer Twelve Months Imprisonment, One-half of such forfeiture to be paid to the Owner of such Negro or other Slave, and the other Half to be paid to the public Treasurer.

And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That in cause any Negro, or other Slave, should, at any Time, have his Tongue cut out or disabled, his Eye put out, his Nose, Ear, or Lip slit, his Nose, Ear, or Lip, or any Limb, or any other Member, cut off, or any Limb or any Member broken, in this Island, and no Person or Persons have been convicted of having been guilty of such Offence, the Provost Marshal, or his lawful Deputy, is hereby directed to apprehend such Negro, or other Slave, and confine him, her or them, in the common Gaol; and in case the Owner of such Negro, or other Slave, shall not, within sixty days after Publication made by the Provost Marshal, or his lawful Deputy, in the public Newspapers in this Island, of his having taken up and confined in the common Gaol such Negro, or other Slave, prove upon Oath, before any Magistrate of this Island, either by himself, or some credible Witness, that he did not willfully cut out or disable the Tongue, put out the Eye, slit the Nose, Ear, or Lip, or cut off the Nose, Ear, or Lip, or any Limb or Member, of any such Negro, or other Slave, or cause the same to be done, Such Negro, or other Slave, shall be forfeited to the Use of the Public of this Island, and the Provost Marshal, or his lawful Deputy, is hereby directed to sell such Negro, or other Slave, at Public Sale in the Town of Basseterre, in the Presence of Six White Persons at least, within Six Days after the Expiration of the Term herein before allowed to  Owners to make Oath as aforesaid of their Innocence; and the said Provost Marshal, or his lawful Deputy, is hereby directed to pay all such Monies as such Negro, and other Slave, shall have been sold for, into the public Treasury of this Island, after deducting the Charges and Expences attending the apprehending, confining, and selling Such Negro, or other Slave, as aforesaid; and the Sale of the said Provost Marshal, or his lawful Deputy, shall give a good Title to any Purchaser of such Negro, or other Slave. Provided always, That nothing herein before contained shall prevent Owners and others from suffering the Pains and Penalties herein before directed to be inflicted, whenever such Owner, or other Persons, shall be convicted of any of the Offences herein before mentioned.

And be it enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That all such Forfeitures, as are before directed to be paid into the public Treasury of this Island, shall remain for the Use of the Public thereof, to be paid and applied in such Manner as the Legislature shall direct. 

Dated in Saint Christopher this Eighteenth Day of December, in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty-three