If anyone should set free the slave of another, while the latter is fettered with irons, or bound in any way, he shall give to the master of the slave ten solidi, on account of his interference. In case he should not have the property wherewith to pay said amount, he shall receive a hundred lashes by order of the judge, and shall, at once, restore the slave to his master. Where said slave cannot be found, he shall be compelled to give another of equal value to the master; or, if he should not have the means to render satisfaction, he shall himself be delivered up as a slave to him whose own slave he released. Where a slave committed this offence without the knowledge of his master, he shall receive a hundred lashes in the presence of the judge; and if the slave who was set free cannot be found, he who liberated him shall be delivered up to the master of the one who was released. But whenever the fugitive slave shall be found, he shall be restored to his master, and the one who was surrendered in his place shall be returned to his master. If, however, one slave should release another with the knowledge of his master, said master must make such compensation as has been hereinbefore provided in the case of freeborn persons.
III. Within what Time a Fugitive Slave that has been Found, shall be Produced Before the Judge.
Where a fugitive slave takes refuge with any person, the latter must straightway bring him before a judge. Should he not produce him as aforesaid, and the slave should remain with him until the eighth night, and then go elsewhere, the person who sheltered him shall be compelled to give two slaves of equal value to his master. If, however, he should be found to have concealed the slave who took refuge with him, he must restore him and give another slave to the master, without delay; because he neglected to give notice to the latter within the legally appointed time.
IV. Where Anyone, Ignorantly, Receives a Fugitive Slave, and Cares for Him.
Where any person ignorantly receives a fugitive slave, and treats him with hospitality, and he should not remain in his house longer than one day or one night, he shall make oath before the master who is searching for said fugitive, that he did not know that he was a fugitive slave; and, if he can prove, without doubt, that he did not conceal him, he shall incur no liability whatever. If, however, said slave should remain in his house for the space of two, three, or four days, for any reason whatever, the said person must show where he was, or by whom he was sheltered, afterwards; and he must either find the fugitive within six months, or prove with whom the slave took refuge after he left his house. If he should not be able to find said slave, he must purge himself by oath of all complicity in his flight, as well as of all knowledge with whom the slave took refuge subsequently; and he shall either restore the fugitive, or give another slave of the same value to his master. If the fugitive should be afterwards found, the slave given in his place shall be returned to his former master, and the latter shall incur no liability whatever.
V. Where Anyone Persuades the Slave of Another to Flee, or Shows him Hospitality.
If anyone, knowing him to be a fugitive, should persuade the slave of another to escape, or anyone should entertain or disguise said slave, and the latter is found, the party aforesaid shall be compelled to give two others of equal value to his master. Should said fugitive not be found, said party must give three slaves of equal value to his master. The same rule shall also apply to the case of female fugitives.
VI. Where a Man, Unknown to be a Slave, is Received by Another, and Remains with him Several Days.
If a stranger, who is a fugitive, should remain, for the space of five or seven days, upon the premises of any person, he who received or entertained him, must give notice of the fact, before the eighth day, to the judge, or governor of the nearest town or province, as has been provided by the law recently promulgated, concerning fugitive slaves; in order that said fugitive may be examined by the authorities, and it be ascertained who he is, and why he has come to that locality. In this way, every provision of the law relating to the treatment of fugitive slaves which we have recently published, shall be complied with in every respect. The greatest diligence must be employed throughout all the provinces of our kingdom, to the end that the appearance of a fugitive, as aforesaid, may become publicly known upon the day of his arrival, or the day afterwards. Where, however, the person who entertains a fugitive slave does not give notice within eight days, and permits him to remain in his house, he shall restore the fugitive to his master, and give the latter another slave, as a penalty for not having given the notice required by law. If, however, the fugitive should escape, he who entertained him must find him; and, if he cannot do so, he shall be compelled to give two slaves of the same value to his master.
VII. Where a Slave, Knowingly, Directs a Fugitive Slave in his Flight.