484 CHARLES COUNTY. [ART. 9.

slave at the time the offence was committed, to be recovered by
indictment in the Circuit Court.

55. If the party convicted of violating sections 52 or 53 of
this article shall be unable to pay the fine, the court may, in
their discretion, order him to be confined in the county jail for a
term not exceeding three months.

56. In all prosecutions under said sections, if it shall be proved
to the satisfaction of the jury that a free negro or a negro slave
was in any store or other house as aforesaid, within the time
prohibited by sections 52 and 53 of this article, such evidence
shall be sufficient to establish the fact that such negro was per-
mitted to be there by the possessor or occupier of such store-
house or other house, unless he shall be able to show by credible
testimony, that he, or his agents or clerks, did not know that
such negro was there; or, knowing, used all necessary means to
• remove him.

57. Any person who shall, in Charles county, receive from any
negro any goods, chattels or personal property, shall be con-
sidered as dealing with such negro, and shall be subject to the
pains and penalties prescribed by section 54 of this article; Pro-
vided, that it shall be lawful to receive of any negro goods,
chattels or personal property in such cases and under such cir-
cumstances as, by the laws of this State, such property may be
bought of a free negro, and none other.

58. Any two justices of the peace in Charles county, on the
application of three or more judicious persons, may issue a re-
quisition for as many inhabitants of said county, subject to
militia duty, as they may think necessary, not exceeding fifteen
in any one company, to be denominated a patrol.

59. Such patrol shall serve for a period of not less than four
nor more than eight hours.

60. The justicea of the peace shall appoint two discreet per-
sons of the patrol to be captains.

61. The patrol shall make diligent search through the district
prescribed in their authority, and disperse all unlawful and riot-
ous assemblages of negroes, and apprehend and seize all negroes
and slaves whom they may have reason to suspect to have un-