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Alexander's British statutes in force in Maryland. 2d ed., 1912
Volume 194, Page 272   View pdf image (33K)
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272
17 R. 2, CAP. 8, RIOTS.

present Parliament hath de-
scended (defended) to all the
Liege People, as well Lords as
other, of whatsoever Estate
that they be, that none shall
make such Assemblies, Riot, or
Rumour against the Peace in
no wise; and if any such As-
sembly be begun as soon as the
Sheriffs and other the King's
Ministers may thereof have
knowledge, they with the
Strength of the County and
Country, where such ease shall
happen, shall set Disturbance
against such Malice with all
their Power, and shall take
such Offenders and them put
in Prison, till due Execution
of the Law be of them made,
and that all Lords and other
liege People of the Realm,
shall be attending with all
their Strength and Power to
the Sheriffs and Ministers
aforesaid.
sent parlement ad defendu a
touz ses lieges sibien seigneurs
come autres de quecunqe es-
tat qils soient qe null face
tiels assemblees riot ou ru-
mour eocontre la pees en nul
manere <& si ascun tiel assem-
ble soit comenceant a pluis
tost qe viscontz & autres min-
istres Ie roi poent ent avoir
conissance ove la force du
countee & pais on tiel cas avi-
egne mettent destourbance en-
contre tiel malice ove tout lour
poair & preignent tielx meffe-
sours & les mettent en prisone
tanque due execucion de leie
soit fait de eux & qe touz seig-
Bours & autres liges du roialrne
soient entendantz & aidantz
de tout lour force & poair as
viscontz & ministres avaunt-
ditz entiel cas.

 
Altered. 13 H. 4, c. 7.
The common law requires sheriffs, constables, and other peace officers to
do all that in them lies towards the suppression of riots, and they may
command others to assist them, State v. Mayhew, 2 GUI, 501. It is no ex-
203 cues that from the number* of rioters the single aid of the person
so called upon would have been of no use, R. v. Brown, 1 Car. & M. 314,
where the requisites to support an indictment against a person refusing to
aid a constable in quelling a riot are stated. Any private person also may,
at common law, lawfully appease such disturbances, by staying the persons
engaged in them from executing their purpose, and may also arm himself
to suppress a riot, Case of arms, Poph. 121; see U. S. v. Fenwick, 4 Cr.
C. C. 675, and, though it is hazardous to proceed to such extremities, use
those arms if necessary. In 1 Hawk. P. C. 208, it is said, that it is no way
safe for private persons to go so far in common cases, and such violent
methods seem only proper against such riots as savour of rebellion. But
Chambre J. observed in Handcock v. Baker, 2 B. & P. 265, that a private

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Alexander's British statutes in force in Maryland. 2d ed., 1912
Volume 194, Page 272   View pdf image (33K)
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