De effractoribus et expilatoribus
(Concerning Those Who Break Out of Prison, and Plunderers.)
1 Ulpianus libro octavo de officio proconsulis. De his, qui carcere effracto evaserunt, sumendum supplicium divi fratres Aemilio Tironi rescripserunt. Saturninus etiam probat in eos, qui de carcere eruperunt sive effractis foribus sive conspiratione cum ceteris, qui in eadem custodia erant, capite puniendos: quod si per neglegentiam custodum evaserunt, levius puniendos. 1Expilatores, qui sunt atrociores fures (hoc enim est expilatores), in opus publicum vel perpetuum vel temporarium dari solent, honestiores autem ordine ad tempus moveri vel fines patriae iuberi excedere. quibus nulla specialis poena rescriptis principalibus inposita est: idcirco causa cognita liberum erit arbitrium statuendi ei qui cognoscit. 2Simili modo et sacculari et derectarii erunt puniendi, item effractores. sed enim divus Marcus effractorem equitem Romanum, qui effracto perforatoque pariete pecuniam abstulerat, quinquennio abstinere iussit provincia Africa, unde erat, et urbe et Italia. oportebit autem aeque et in effractores et in ceteros supra scriptos causa cognita statui, prout admissum suggerit, dummodo ne quis in plebeio operis publici poenam vel in honestiore relegationis excedat.
1 Ulpianus, On the Duties of Proconsul, Book VIII. The Divine Brothers stated in a Rescript addressed to Æmilius Tiro, that persons who break out of prison should suffer death. Saturninus also adopts the opinion that those who have escaped from prison whether by breaking down the doors, or by conspiring with others confined with them, should be capitally punished, but if they escaped through the negligence of the guards, they should undergo a lighter penalty. 1Robbers, who are more atrocious thieves (for this is the meaning of the word) should be sentenced to labor on the public works either for life, or for a certain term of years; those, however, who are of superior rank should be temporarily dismissed from their order, or compelled to depart beyond the boundaries of their country; but no special penalty has been imposed upon them by the Imperial Rescripts. Therefore, where proper cause is shown, the magistrate having jurisdiction can pronounce judgment according to his discretion. 2In like manner, thieves who carry bags, directarii, and those who break into buildings, shall be punished in the same way. The Emperor Marcus ordered that a Roman knight who had stolen money, after having broken through a wall, should be banished from the Province of Africa from whence he came, as well as from the City, and from Italy, for the term of five years. It is, however, necessary, after proper cause has been shown, to render a decision with reference to both those who break into houses, and the other offenders above mentioned, according to the circumstances attending the crime; provided that no one shall be sentenced to a more severe penalty than that of labor on the public works, if he is a plebeian, and if he is of higher rank, shall suffer no more severe punishment than that of exile.
2 Paulus libro singulari de officio praefecti vigilum. Inter effractores varie animadvertitur. atrociores enim sunt nocturni effractores, et ideo hi fustibus caesi in metallum dari solent: diurni vero effractores post fustium castigationem in opus perpetuum vel temporarium dandi sunt.
2 Paulus, On the Duties of the Prefect of the Night Watch. Different penalties are inflicted upon persons who break into houses, for those who break in at night are the more atrocious, and hence they are usually scourged and sentenced to the mines. Those, however, who break in by day, are first whipped, and then sentenced to hard labor for life or for a specified time.