478 CHARLES COUNTY. [ART. 9.

to perform his daily task or to obey any of the rules or by-laws
of the corporation, said justice may order and direct such mode-
rate. and proper correction, not exceeding thirty-nine lashes for
any one offence, to be given him, as the nature of the case may
require.

17. Any one of the trustees may, in writing, direct what poor
shall be received into said alms-house.

18. Any justice of the peace for the county, or any person by
him authorized, may apprehend any rogues, vagrants, vagabonds,
or other offenders, or idle, dissolute and disorderly persons
loitering or residing in the county, who follow no labor, trade,
occupation or businesa, and have no visible means of support,
and commit them to said alms-house, there to be kept at hard
labor, for any time not exceeding three months.

19. The pains, penalties and forfeitures by this law directed
and inflicted, may be recovered in the Circuit Court for Charles
county, by action of debt or indictment, one-half to the informer
and the other to the use of the alms-house.

20. All sheriffs, bailiffs, constables, and other officers shall aid
and assist the trustees of the poor and other officers by them
appointed, in the discharge of their respective duties.

21. If any person shall at any time be sued or prosecuted for
any thing done in pursuance and execution of this law, he may
plead the general issue, and give the special matter in evidence,
and if verdict shall be found for defendant, or if the plaintiff bo
non suit or discontinue, the defendant shall recover treble costs,
and if the plaintiff is unable to satisfy them, the attorney who
brought the suit shall pay them, unless the plaintiff shall give
security therefor, to be approved by the court.

22. The trustees of the poor, aforesaid, shall receive and
reject or grant, in their discretion, applications from indigent
and distressed persons for out-pensions.

23. The allowance to any one person by said trustees, shall
in no case exceed the sum of thirty dollars per annum" and
the gross amount of such allowances, together with the allow-
ance for the support of the inmates of the alms-house, including