LAWS OF MARYLAND.— 1797.

349

CHAPTER 76.
AN ACT to regulate the Fees of the Registers of Wills in the several
counties of this state.
Supplanted by 1826, ch. 247.

CHAPTER 87.

AN ACT for the direction of Sheriffs and Coroners in the return of Jurors,
and for the better regulation of Juries.
A supplement, 1798, ch. 94.

WHEREAS the integrity, experience and intelligence of jurors,
is indispensably necessary for the due administration of justice:
And whereas the sheriffs frequently return jurors very inade-
quate to the discharge of the important duties assigned to them;

Preamble.

SEC. 2. Be it enact 'ed, by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That all sheriffs and coroners within this state already commis-
sioned, shall, on or before the first Monday in March next, take
the following oath or affirmation, (as the case may be,) before
some judge or justice of the court of the county for which they
may have been respectively commissioned, to wit : 'I, A. B. do
sxvear or affirm, (as the case may be,) that in summoning jurors
to be returned to any of the courts of this state, and that in
executing every writ or precept which shall come to my hands for
the return of jurors, I will use my utmost diligence to summon
and return, as jurors, sober and judicious persons, of good repu-
tation, and qualified by the laws of this state to serve as jurors,
and to prevent any man being summoned or returned by me,
or by any officer under me, who in my judgment will be influ-
enced in determining any of the matters which shall come be-
fore him as a juror by hatred, malice or ill will, fear, favour or
affection, or by any partiality whatever ; and that I will not
summon or return as a juror any person, who, in my opinion or
to my knowledge, may be solicitous to be returned upon the
panel of jurors ;' and that they respectively return a certificate
of such oath, or affirmation, to the clerk of the court of the
county for which such person is commissioned as sheriff, or
coroner, within twenty days thereafter, there to be recorded by
said clerk, whose duty it is hereby declared to be to record the
same amongst the proceedings of the preceding county court;
and that in case any sheriff or coroner shall neglect to take
such oath, or affirmation, or return a certificate thereof as afore-
said, the person so neglecting shall forfeit and pay the sum of
fifty dollars, to be recovered by indictment before the district
court of the county for which such person is commissioned,
and applied to the use of said county.

Sheriffs,
&c. to take
an oath, &c.

SEC* 3. And be it enacted, That no person shall be sum-
moned as a juror by any sheriff or coroner of this state to two
general or county courts successively.

No person
to be sum-
moned, &c.