710 ARTICLE 20

ARTICLE 20.

CONSTABLES.¹

	Qualification. 1. Declaration of belief and oath. 2. Official bond. 3. Additional, when to be appointed. Execution of Process and Collection of Debts. 4. To execute civil and criminal process from justices of the peace. 5. Penalty for neglect so to do: 6. To levy executions. 7. Authority within district; liability of bond. 8. Penalty for neglect to return execution. 9. Remedy over by constable. 10. To serve distress. 11. Receipt for claims for collection. 12. Death of constable before making levy. 13. Death before making sale. 14. Poundage fees in this case. Suits on Bond and Remedies Against. 15. Bond of defaulting constable may be sued.	16. Certificate of clerk as to securities. 17. Constable's receipt of claim prima facie evidence against him. 18. Defenses of constable. 19. Suit on other bonds of constable. 20. Suit against constable for money col- lected. 21. Execution without supersedeas on judg- ments against. Police Duties of Constables. 22. They shall be sworn to grand jury. 23. Shall visit suspected gambling places. 24. They shall arrest parties vending goods from place to place without license. 25. Shall inform against non-residents re- tailing spirituous liquors. 20. May, upon complaint, inspect retailers' measures. 27. Shall deliver to sheriff persons com- mitted to their custody.

Qualifications.

An. Code, 1924, sec. 1. 1912, sec. 1. 1904, sec. 1. 1888, sec. 1. 1852, ch. 172, sec. 5.

1854, ch. 18, sec. 9.

1. Every constable appointed shall, within thirty days after his appoint-
ment, make the declaration of religious belief and take and subscribe the
oath prescribed by the constitution. '

A person appointed constable who neglects to take the oath within thirty days after
his appointment must be held to have refused the office. This section is mandatory. This
section construed in connection with art. 1, sec. 7, of the Constitution, and art. 70,
sec. 11, of the Code; the latter section in so far as it conflicts with this section does
not apply to constables. Little v. Schul, 118 Md. 465.

An. Code, 1924, sec. 2. 1912, sec. 2. 1904, sec. 2. 1888, sec. 2. 1809, ch. 117, secs. 2, 3.
1835, ch. 201, sec. 16. 1835, ch. 342. 1854, ch. 148.

2. Every constable shall also, before he acts as such, give bond to the
State of Maryland, with good and sufficient security, to be approved by
the county commissioners of the county, or the judge of the superior court
of Baltimore City, in the penalty of two thousand dollars, conditioned "that
the said constable shall well and faithfully execute the said office in all
things appertaining thereto, and shall also well and truly account for all
moneys placed in his hands for collection, or received by him on judgments,

¹ No constable may purchase any debt held by or due to a resident of his county or
city—art. 69, sec. 10.
See art. 4, secs. 42 and 43, of Md. Constitution.