ART. 11.] FREDERICK COUNTY. 585

Davis' mill dam, in Frederick county, are nuisances, and may be
pulled down and abated as such by any person, and the person
erecting the same shall be liable to indictment as in other cases
of nuisance.

235. If any slave shall erect any dam or device or place any
stones or obstructions of any kind, so as to obstruct the naviga-
tion of said river below the point aforesaid, he shall upon com-
plaint under oath being made to a justice of the peace for said
county, be apprehended upon a warrant to be issued by said
justice, and be whipped in his discretion, not ^exceeding thirty-
nine lashes.

236. If any person shall obstruct or hinder any other person
from abating such nuisance, or shall assault or wound any per-
son for abating the same, after attempting so to do, ho shall,
besides being subject to an action by the party injured, forfeit
the sum of one hundred dollars, to be recovered by action of
debt in the Circuit Court for said county, or by indictment in
said court, one-half to the informer or him who will sue for or
prosecute the same with effect, and the other half to the use of
the county.

NEGROES AND SLAVES.

237. Any justice of the peace for Frederick county, upon the
application of three judicious persons, may issue a requisition
for as many inhabitants of the county subject to militia duty, as
he may think necessary, not exceeding fifteen in any one com-
pany, to be denominated a patrol.

238. The said justice shall appoint two discreet persons of
said patrol to be captains.

239. Said patrol shall serve for a period of not less than three
nor more than eight hours.

240. They shall make diligent search through the district pre-
scribed in their authority, and disperse all unlawful and riotous
assemblages of negroes, and apprehend and seize all negroes
and slaves whom they have reason to suspect have unlawfully
absented themselves from home, or have illegally emigrated
from another State, or are in any manner violating the laws of
this State.