Council of Maryland, 1782-1783. 465

Ordered that the western shore Treasurer pay to The Honorable
Alexander Contee Hanson Esq^r one of the Judges of the General
Court One hundred pounds Current Money for one Quarters Salary
due the 1^st August last
This being the Day appointed to enquire into the truth of the
Charges contained in the Memorial of William Hopkins Junior
against the Justices of Harford County. The Board took the same
into Consideration
Ordered that the Substance of the Charges be entered on the Jour-
nal of the proceedings of this Board. —
Charges against Thomas Johnson, John Patrick, Mordecai Amos,
William Bond, William Smithson, John Love, Ignatius Wheeler and
Abraham Whitaker Esquires Justices of Harford County

October 15
Liber C. B.
No. 24
p. 448

1^st of making a Common practice of issuing fiere facias's for the
smallest Sums and, giving Judgment, and issuing Executions in
Cases where no Warrant has ever been served.
2^d of partiality in their Court Determinations; particularly in the
Cases of fines imposed on Martin Parker, John Ellis, Nathan Little,
James Barnes & W^m Hopkins.
3^d Of Malversation in Office; particularly in appointing and con-
tinuing a M^r Allender in Office as Constable for five or six Years ;
the said Allender being represented to be so great a villain that his
equal scarcely exists, notwithstanding repeated Complaints had been
made to Court of his illegal and base practices in the Execution of
his Duty.* and in Meeting once a fortnight at some tippling House
to do Business, where Warranting is encouraged, Business delayed,
great numbers of the lower Class of people drawn together, and
Drunkeness, Cursing, Swearing, Card playing, Horse racing, and
raffling are committed with Impunity — in their Conduct when John
Patrick was accused before the Grand Jury of perjury by the Oath
or Oaths of one or more reputable persons. — in their Conduct on
the Complaint of John Patrick against Samuel Gover, that said
Gover had damned him as a Magistrate, and the whole Court : — in
their Determination on an appeal from the Judgment of a single
Magistrate in a Case between James Rigbie and Charles Hopkins :
and on an appeal by Edward Tredway from the Judgment of a single
Magistrate.
* M^r Allender is accused of illegal and unjustifiable Conduct ;
particularly in executing and advertiseing the Goods of John Bruce
for Sale, without giving any Notice of the Demand : — in executing
Manasset Finney without Notice, and taking illegal fees from said
Finney, and for keeping and detaining him in close Custody for a
pretended Debt for which the said Finney shewed the said Allender a
Receipt in full : — in executing the property of William Coale to
satisfy a Debt said to be due to John Taylor Esquire, after said Coale
had shewn him a Receipt in full, and after said Taylor had informed
said Allender that the Debt had been Discharged : — in executing the

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p. 449