| 1788.
CHAP.
XV. |
LAWS of MARYLAND.
at hard labour, for any time not exceeding three months; and the overseer
of such
alms and work-house is hereby required to receive into the said alms
and work-house
any poor appointed as aforesaid to be received, and any vagrant, vagabond,
beggar, and other idle, dissolute, and disorderly person, so as aforesaid
committed. |
Persons received
to
wear a badge,
&c. |
XVIII. And be
it enacted, That every person who shall be received into the
said alms or work-house, and there receive relief, shall, upon 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. Q. A. cut in red or blue cloth,
as by
the overseer of the work-house shall be directed and appointed; and if
such 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 said trustees
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to be abridged, suspended or withdrawn, or otherwise by ordering such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 work-house shall receive any vagrant, vagabond,
or
other idle, dissolute, or disorderly person, into his said work-house,
or shall support
any such person, not having and wearing such badge or mark as aforesaid,
and be thereof convicted upon the oath of one or more credible witness
or witnesses,
he shall forfeit and pay the sum of ten pounds current money. |
Penalty on
keeping
booth, &c. |
XIX. And be
it enacted, That whosoever shall presume either to set up a
booth, stall, or other convenience for the selling of strong liquors, on
the land
belonging to the said alms and work-house, or shall commit any kind of
trespass
thereon, or shall sell or dispose of any strong liquor, or other matter
or
thing whatsoever to, or purchase any matter or thing whatsoever from, any
poor,
or other person entertained in the said alms and work-house, shall, for
every such
offence, forfeit and pay the sum of ten pounds current money. |
Sheriffs, &c.
to aid trustees,
&c. |
XX. And be it
enacted, That all sheriffs, constables, and all other officers
and ministers of justice, shall be aiding and assisting to the said trustees
for the
poor in the said county, and to all such officers as shall be employed
by them,
as by this act is directed, in the execution and performance of the said
service. |
Persons sued
may plead,
&c. |
XXI. And be
it enacted, That if any person or persons shall, at any time or
times, be sued or prosecuted for any matter or thing by him or them done
and
executed in pursuance and execution of this act, or of any matter or thing
in
this act contained, such person or persons shall and may plead the general
issue,
and give this act and the special matter in evidence, for his or their
defence; and
if upon trial a verdict shall pass for the defendant or defendants, or
if the plaintiff
or plaintiffs shall become nonsuit, or discontinue his or their suit,
then such
defendant or defendants shall have and recover treble costs to him or them
awarded
against such plaintiff or plaintiffs, and if the plaintiff or plaintiffs
is or are unable
to satisfy the same, then it shall be paid and satisfied by the attorney
who
brought such suit, unless the plaintiff or plaintiffs shall give security
for the costs,
to be approved by the court in which such suit is brought. |
Three trustees
to be chosen
annually,
&c. |
III. And,
to prevent individuals from being unreasonably burthened with
the execution of this act, as trustees for the poor, Be
it enacted, That at the
time of the meeting of the said trustees for the poor in the first week
of November
yearly, the said trustees, or the major part of them, in the county aforesaid,
shall and may elect and choose three of the inhabitants of the said county
to be
trustees for the poor of that county, in the stead of the first three named
or eldest
of the said trustees of the same county; which said first named or eldest
trustees
shall be, and is by virtue hereof, thencefrom discharged from their office;
and the
said trustees, or a majority of them, are hereby empowered and required,
as soon
as the buildings aforesaid are ready for the accommodation and reception
of the
poor of the said county, to proceed to the appointment of an overseer,
and other
officers and servants as are mentioned in this act, ad to do and perform
every |
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