# Poor Relief Act 1691, Section XII: Parishioners, except Almsmen, may be Evidence against Churchwardens, &c. of their mispending &c. the Poors Money.


And whereas many Churchwardens and Overseers of the Poor and other persons intrustred to receive Collections for the Poor and other publick moneys relateing to the churches and parishes whereunto they do belong do often mispend the said moneys and take the same to their owne use to the great prejudice of such parishes and the Poor and other Inhabitants thereof And because that many times the Judges when Actions are brought against such Churchwardens and Overseers to recover the moneys so mispent taken or misapplied by the persons aforesaid refuse to admit the Parishioners to be Witnesses in such cases who are the only persons that can make proof thereof. Wherefore to prevent all such evil and deceitful practices of Churchwardens and Overseers and other persons Be it enacted and declared That in all Actions to be brought in Their Majesties Courts of Record att Westminster or at the Assizes for recovery of any Sum or Sums of money so mispent or taken by Churchwardens or Overseers of the Poor the Evidence of the Parishioners or any of them other then of such as receive Alms or any Pension or Gift out of such Collections or publick moneys of such Parish or Parishes respectively whereof the Defendant or Defendants is or are Inhabitant or Inhabitants shall be taken and admitted in all such cases in the Courts aforesaid Any Custome Rule Order or Usage to the contrary notwithstanding.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/aep/WillandMar/3/11/section/XII (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/poor-relief-act-1691/section-XII
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.