NIGHT WATCH.
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1809
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selves, and shall carry the persons so apprehended, as soon as
they conveniently can, before one or more justices of the peace,
or commissioner, in said town, to be examined and dealt with
according to law, and shall once, or oftener, at convenient times
of the night, go about the several stands id said town, and shall
take notice whether the watchmen perform their duties in their
several stations, according to the regulations made for that pur-
pose, and in case any watchmen misbehaves or neglects his
duty, the constable shall immediately give notice to the com-
missioners aforesaid, or any of them, that the watchman may
be admonished or discharged, as the service may require; and
the said constable shall observe, keep and perform, all such
rules and regulations as shall be made by the said commis-
sioners for their good government, and in case of misbehaviour
or neglect, may be admonished or discharged in the same man-
ner as the watchmen ; and the said constables, for every night-
watching, shall be paid by the commissioners aforesaid, such
sum of money as they, or a major part of them, shall think
reasonable.
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SEC. 7. And be it enacted, That if any of the said constables
shall neglect to attend any night in his turn to keep watch and
ward at the respective hours appointed by this act, or shall
depart from or leave keeping watch during the respective hours
appointed for keeping the same, or shall neglect to go about the
several stands of said town once at least in every night of his said
watching, or shall otherwise misbehave or neglect his duty, in
each or every said case, the person so offending shall forfeit and
pay the sum of twenty shillings.
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Penally on
neglect of
duty, &e.
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SEC. 8. And be it enacted. That the watchmen are hereby
empowered, required and directed, in their several stations,
during the time of their keeping watch, to apprehend all night-
walkers, malefactors, rogues, vagabonds and disorderly persons,
whom they shall find disturbing the peace, or shall have just
cause to suspect of any evil designs, and to carry the person as
soon as convenient before some justice or commissioner in said
town, to be examined and dealt with according to law; and the
watchmen shall be at their respective stands and keep watch at
the hours by law required, and shall observe, perform and execute
all such rules, orders and regulations, as shall be from time to time
enjoined upon them, and in case of any fire breaking out, or other
great necessity, shall alarm each other, and the inhabitants in
their respective rounds, which when done they shall repair to
their respective stands, the better to discover any other fire that
may happen, as well as to prevent any burglaries, robberies,
outrages or disorders, and to apprehend any suspected persons,
who in such times of confusion may be feloniously carrying off
the goods and effects of others ; and the said watchmen are
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Duty of
watchmen.
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