OFFICERS 2663

cise any of the functions of any officer, under the penalty of fifty dollars
for every, offense; to be recovered by indictment in the circuit court for
the county where the offense may be committed, or in the criminal court
of Baltimore, if committed in said city.

An. Code, 1924, sec. 11. 1912, sec, 11. 1904, sec. 11. 1888, sec. 11. 1805, ch. 107.

10. No sheriff, constable or collector of taxes shall, while he continues
in office, purchase any debt or claim held by or due from any person resid-
ing in the county or city wherein he is sheriff, constable or collector of
taxes, under the penalty of fifty dollars for each offense.

An. Code, 1924, sec. 12. 1912, sec. 12. 1904, sec. 12. 1900, ch. 356, sec. 12.

11. No person shall be appointed to any office in the State of Mary-
land who has not been an actual bona fide resident of this State for at
least twelve months prior to the day of his appointment, and no person
shall be appointed by any State or county officials unless such person so
appointed shall have been an actual bona fide resident of the State of
Maryland for at least twelve months, and of the county wherein he is
appointed for at least six months prior to the day of his appointment. This
section shall not affect appointments of officers requiring special knowledge
or training, or the appointment to offices requiring expert knowledge or
training.

An. Code, 1924, sec. 13. 1922, ch. 454.

12. Women shall be eligible to hold all public offices and positions to
the same extent as men, subject to all provisions of law, general or local,
containing restrictions or qualifications for holding such offices and posi-
tions. All positions of law creating public offices or positions, and contain-
ing words or phrases denoting the masculine gender, shall be construed to
include the feminine gender, unless the contrary intention is specifically
expressed.
See sec. 10 of art. 15 of the Md. Constitution.