| 1787.
CHAP.
XVI.
Overseer to
keep a fair
list of all
poor, &c. |
LAWS of MARYLAND.
XIII. And be
it enacted, That the said overseer shall keep a fair and regular
list of all poor, and of all beggars, vagrants, vagabonds and offenders,
who
shall be committed to his said alms and work-house, and also fair and regular
accounts in writing of all materials and other things coming to his hands
as
overseer aforesaid, and of all expences and charges attending their maintenance
and support, and of all monies received by him for the sale of the produce
of their
labour, and otherwise, as overseer aforesaid, and shall lay the said
lists and accounts
before the trustees of his county, or the major part of them, at their
meetings at the times by this act directed, or oftener, if by them required. |
And may
compel them
to work, &c. |
XIV. And be
it enacted, That the said overseer may compel and oblige any
of the said poor, beggars, vagrants and vagabonds, or offenders, in his
alms and
work-house, if of a sufficient ability, to work and labour, and the produce
of
their labour be is hereby directed and empowered to sell, and apply the
money
arising from such sale to their maintenance and support. |
Disorderly
persons may
be committed,
&c. |
XV. And be it
enacted, That upon complaint made, that any person, from
his or her disorderly conduct, gives disturbance to his or their neighbourhood,
and
is likely to become chargeable to the said county respectively, it shall
and may
be lawful for any one magistrate of the said county, if upon hearing the
party he
shall judge the complaint to be well founded, to commit such disorderly
person,
residing within the said county respectively, to the said work-house, for
any
time not exceeding three months, unless he or she shall find security,
at the discretion
of the magistrate aforesaid, in any sum not exceeding ten pounds current
money, for his or her good behaviour during the space of six months; and
also upon complaint and due proof made by the overseer of the said alms
and
work-house, to any one trustee, that any person in the work-house hath
behaved
and demeaned him or herself in a disorderly manner, or hath refused or
neglected to do and perform his or her daily labour and task, or hath refused
or neglected to obey, keep and observe, any of the ordinances, rules and
bye-laws,
of the said corporation, to order and direct such moderate and proper
correction,
not exceeding fifteen lashes for any one offence, to be given to such
offender, as the nature of the case may require. |
Trustees to
direct what
poor shall be
received, &c. |
XVI. And be
it enacted, That it shall and may be lawful to and for any of
the said trustees to direct and appoint, under their hand in writing, what
poor
shall be received into the alms and work-house of their county; and it
shall and
may be lawful for any one justice of the peace for the said counties, and
for any
person authorised and appointed by such justice, to apprehend, or cause
to be apprehended
and committed to the said work-house, any vagrants, vagabonds, beggars,
and other idle, dissolute, and disorderly persons, found loitering or residing
in their said county, who follow no labour, trade, occupation or business,
and
have no visible means of subsistence whereby to acquire an honest livelihood,
there to be kept at hard labour for any time not exceeding three months,
and
the overseer of such alms and work-house shall be obliged to receive any
poor
appointed as aforesaid to be received, and any vagrant, vagabond, beggar,
and
other idle, dissolute, and disorderly person, so as aforesaid committed. |
Poor, &c. to
wear a badge,
&c. |
XVII. And be
it enacted, That every person who shall be received into the
said alms or work-houses, and there receive relief, shall, upon the shoulder
of
the right sleeve of the uppermost garment of every such person, in an open
and
visible manner, wear the following badge, to wit, the letters P. M. or
P. H.
as the case may be, cut in red or blue cloth, as by the overseer of the
poor
shall be directed and appointed; and if such poor person shall neglect
or refuse
to wear such mark or badge as aforesaid, and in manner as aforesaid, it
shall and
may be lawful for any one of the trustees of such county to punish every
such
offender for every such offence, either by ordering his or her usual allowance
to
be abridged, suspended or withdrawn, or otherwise by ordering such offender
to
be whipped, not exceeding fifteen lashes, and kept to hard labour for any
number
of days not exceeding twenty, as to the said trustees shall seem meet;
and if any
overseer of the poor shall receive into his said alms and work-house, or
shall |
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