When anyone arrests a thief, or any other criminal, he must straightway conduct him before the judge; and he must not keep him in his house longer than one day, or one night. If anyone should violate this provision, he shall be forced to pay five _solidi_ to the judge for his insolence. If a slave should do this, without the knowledge of his master, he shall receive a hundred lashes, but if he should do it with the master’s consent, all liability for damages shall be incurred by the latter. If the slave is of superior rank, his master shall be compelled to pay a fine of ten _solidi_, half of which sum shall belong to the judge, and the other half shall be given to him who is known to have suffered the injury. =FLAVIUS RECESVINTUS, KING.= =XXIII. Where Anyone Secretly Kills an Animal Belonging to Another.= If anyone should, secretly or at night, kill a horse, an ox, or any other kind of animal belonging to another, he shall be compelled to pay ninefold the value of the same. If it is not possible to convict him, he shall purge himself of guilt publicly, by oath. Where a slave commits such an offence, under the direction of his master, and this is proved by competent evidence; the master of the slave shall be compelled to make restitution ninefold, as a thief would have done. If a slave should not be convicted by testimony, he shall be tortured; and after it has been established that he committed the crime, he shall either pay sixfold the value of the animal killed, or shall be transferred to the service of him whom he injured. If, however, he should prove to be innocent, the complainant shall render satisfaction to the master of the slave, as provided by other laws. TITLE III. CONCERNING APPROPRIATORS AND KIDNAPPERS OF SLAVES. =I.= _Where Anyone Seizes the Slave of Another._ =II.= _Where a Freeman is Convicted of Having Stolen the Male or Female Slave of Another._ =III.= _Concerning Kidnapped Children of Freeborn Persons._ =IV.= _Where one Slave Kidnaps Another Belonging to a Person not his Master._ =V.= _Where a Slave, at the Command of his Master, Kidnaps a Freeborn Person._ =VI.= _Where a Slave, without the Knowledge of his Master, Kidnaps a Freeborn Person._ =THE GLORIOUS FLAVIUS RECESVINTUS, KING.= =I. Where Anyone Seizes the Slave of Another.=