§ 8-55. Testimony enforced in certain criminal investigations; immunity. - North Carolina Statutes

§8‑55.  Testimony enforced in certain criminal investigations; immunity.

If any justice, judge ormagistrate of the General Court of Justice shall have good reason to believethat any person within his jurisdiction has knowledge of the existence andestablishment of any faro bank, faro table or other gaming table prohibited bylaw, or of any place where alcoholic beverages are sold contrary to law, in anytown or county within his jurisdiction, such person not being minded to makevoluntary information thereof on oath, then it shall be lawful for suchjustice, magistrate, or judge to issue to the sheriff of the county in whichsuch faro bank, faro table, gaming table, or place where alcoholic beveragesare sold contrary to law is supposed to be a subpoena, capias ad testificandum,or other summons in writing, commanding such person to appear immediatelybefore such justice, magistrate, or judge and give evidence on oath as to whathe may know touching the existence, establishment and whereabouts of such farobank, faro table or other gaming table, or place where alcoholic beverages aresold contrary to law, and the name and personal description of the keeperthereof. Such evidence, when obtained, shall be considered and held in law asan information on oath, and the justice, magistrate or judge may thereuponproceed to seize and arrest such keeper and destroy such table, or issueprocess therefor as provided by law. No person shall be excused, on anyprosecution, from  testifying touching any unlawful gaming done by himself orothers; but no discovery made by the witness upon such examination shall beused against him in any penal or criminal prosecution, and he shall bealtogether pardoned of the offenses so done or participated in by him. (R.C.,c. 35, s. 50; 1858‑9, c. 34, s. 1; Code, ss. 1050, 1215; 1889, c. 355;Rev., ss. 1637, 3721; 1913, c. 141; C.S., s. 1800; 1969, c. 44, s. 22; 1971, c.381, s. 4; 1981, c. 412, s. 4(4); c. 747, s. 66.)