CLERKS OF COURTS. 559

The object of this section is for security, and to furnish convenient means of evi-
dence in other courts. Boteler v. State, 8 G. & J. 382.

The records of courts are public property, and if they are not properly made up
or preserved, the state must supply the defect and the bond of the clerk is liable.
State v. Wayman, 2 G. & J. 282.

See sec. 58, et seq.

See art. 21, " Conveyancing."

An. Code, sec. 22. 1904, sec. 22. 1894, ch. 513, sec. 20A.

24. Said clerk, whenever requested in writing to do so by the trustee,
attorney or party in interest, shall record among the chancery, judicial or
other proper record books of his office, such bill of complaint, decree, order
of court, trustee's report, auditor's account and report or other paper filed
in a cause in his office, although the title to land may not be involved therein,
provided the cost of such recording be first paid or provided for.

An. Code, sec. 23. 1904, sec. 23. 1888, sec. 21. 1845, ch. 254, sec. 3. 1854, ch. 313.

25. If any clerk shall neglect or refuse to comply with the provisions
of the three preceding sections, he shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and
shall forfeit the sum of two hundred dollars for the use of the State; pro-
vided, that so far as the proceedings mentioned in section 23 are concerned,
the clerk shall not be required to record the same until the costs thereof
shall have been first .paid. This section shall not apply to Anne Arundel,
Howard and Worcester counties.

An. Code, sec. 23A. 1914, ch. 341.

26. Whenever in any cause in a Court of Equity any real or leasehold
estate is sold and the proceedings, or any part of them, are by law proper
to be recorded among the records of such Court, the costs accruing in such
cause up to and including the final ratification of the sale, including the
costs of recording such papers as are by law proper to be recorded, shall be
paid before the final ratification of the first. auditor's account after such
sale; and upon the payment of such costs it shall be the duty of the clerk
of the Court to forthwith record so much of said proceedings as are by law
proper to be recorded.

An. Code, sec. 24. 1908, ch. 404.

27. The clerks of the several circuit courts for the counties, and of the
circuit court of Baltimore city, and of the circuit court No. 2 of Baltimore
city shall each keep a well-bound book in which they shall cause to be
recorded all final decrees passed in all proceedings for divorce. Each of said
clerks shall be entitled to charge and receive a fee of one dollar for each and
every decree therein recorded, to be part of the costs in the case, and to be
taxed and collected as other costs are now taxed and collected. If any such
clerk shall neglect or refuse to make such record, he shall be deemed guilty
of a misdemeanor and shall forfeit the sum of one hundred dollars for the
use of the State; provided, that said clerks shall not be required to record
said decrees until the costs thereof shall have been first paid.