De requirendis vel absentibus damnandis
(Concerning the conviction of persons who are sought for or are absent.)
1 Marcianus libro secundo publicorum. Divi Severi et Antonini magni rescriptum est, ne quis absens puniatur: et hoc iure utimur, ne absentes damnentur: neque enim inaudita causa quemquam damnari aequitatis ratio patitur. 1Si autem gravius quis puniatur, puta in opus metalli vel similem poenam sive capitalem: hoc casu non est irroganda in absentem poena, sed absens requirendus adnotatus est, ut copiam sui praestet. 2Praesides autem provinciarum circa requirendos adnotatos hoc debent facere, ut eos quos adnotaverint edictis adesse iubeant, ut possit innotescere eis quod adnotati sunt, sed et litteras ad magistratus, ubi consistunt, mittere, ut per eos possit innotescere requirendos eos esse adnotatos. 3Eex hoc annus computatur ad se purgandos. 4Sed et Papinianus libro sexto decimo responsorum scripsit requirendum adnotatum si provinciae praesidem intra annum adierit et satis obtulerit, non esse locum mandatis, ut bona fisco vindicentur. nam et si intra annum mortuus sit, criminis causa expirat et perit et bona eius ad successores transmittuntur.
1 Marcianus, Public Prosecutions, Book II. The Divine Severus and Antoninus stated in a Rescript that no one who is absent should be punished, and it is the present law that absent persons shall not be condemned; for the rule of equity does not suffer anyone to be convicted without being heard. 1If anyone is liable to severe punishment, for instance, if he may be condemned to labor in the mines, or to a similar penalty, or to a capital one, in this case the penalty must not be inflicted upon an absent person, but anyone who is absent and is sought for is recorded as being present. 2The Governors of provinces should follow this course with reference to defendants who are sought for, and noted as being present; namely, they should order them by Edicts to appear in order that those who have been mentioned as being present should become aware of the fact. They should also write to magistrates where the parties live, in order that, by their agency, those who are being sought for may ascertain that they have been recorded as being present. 3A year is computed from this date to enable them to purge themselves of contempt. 4And even Papinianus, in the Sixteenth Book of Opinions, says that he who is sought for, and noted as being present, must appear before the Governor of the province within twelve months, and furnish security; and that there is no reason to order that his property shall be confiscated to the Treasury, for if he should die within the year, the accusation of the crime will be extinguished, and come to an end, and the property of the party accused will be transmitted to his successors.
2 Macer libro secundo publicorum. Anni spatium ad occupanda bona eius, qui requirendus adnotatus est, pertinet. 1Sed si per viginti annos fiscus bona non occupaverit, postea praescriptione vel ab ipso reo vel ab heredibus eius submovebitur:
2 Macer, On Public Prosecutions, Book II. The term of a year is fixed for the purpose of seizing the property of anyone who is sought for and noted as being present. 1If, however, the Treasury does not seize his property for twenty years, it will be barred from doing so subsequently, if prescription should be pleaded either by the defendant himself, or by his heirs.
3 Marcianus libro secundo de publicis iudiciis. quamcumque enim quaestionem apud fiscum, si non alia sit propria praescriptio, viginti annorum silentio praescribi divi principes voluerunt.
3 Marcianus, On Public Prosecutions, Book II. Any claim made by the Treasury is prescribed by a silence of twenty years, when there is no other prescription, as was established by the Divine Emperors.
4 Macer libro secundo de publicis iudiciis. Annus exinde computandus est, ex quo ea adnotatio quae vel edicto vel litteris ad magistratus factis publice innotuit. 1Ergo et viginti annorum tempus exinde fisco numeratur, ex quo adnotatio publice innotuit. 2In summa sciendum est nulla temporis praescriptione causae defensione summoveri eum, qui requirendus adnotatus est.
4 Macer, On Public Prosecutions, Book II. The year is computed from the time when the notification was publicly made, either by means of an Edict or by letters sent to the magistrate. 1Therefore, the term of twenty years is reckoned for the Treasury, from the moment when the notice was published. 2In a word, it should be remembered that he who is sought for and notified is not barred from undertaking his defence by any prescription of time.
5 Modestinus libro duodecimo pandectarum. Mandatis cavetur intra annum requirendorum bona obsignari, ut, si redierint et se purgaverint, integram rem suam habeant: si neque responderint neque qui se defendant habuerint, tunc post annum bona in fiscum coguntur. 1Et intra annum medio tempore moventia si qua sunt, ne aut mora deteriora fiant aut aliquo modo intereant, venire debere pretiumque eorum in deposito esse, divi Severus et Antoninus sanxerunt. 2Sed et divus Traianus inter moventia fructus quoque haberi rescripsit. 3Curandum est autem, ne quid ei qui profugit medio tempore a debitoribus eius solvatur, ne per hoc fuga eius instruatur.
5 Modestinus, Pandects, Book XII. It is provided by the Imperial Mandates that the property of persons who are sought for shall be sealed up during the year, and if they return, and offer proper excuses, they shall have it restored to them. If, however, they do not answer, and no one appears to defend them, after a year has elapsed, their property shall be confiscated to the Treasury. 1And, during the intermediate year, any movable property belonging to them may be sold, in order to prevent it being spoiled by delay, or destroyed, and the proceeds thereof shall be deposited; as authorized by the Divine Severus and Antoninus. 2The Divine Trajan stated in a Rescript that crops also are considered movable property. 3Care, however, should be taken that the fugitive shall, in the meantime, be paid nothing by his debtors, lest by this means his flight may be aided.