ART. 24 ] ALMSHOUSE. 2113

P. L. L., (1860,) art. 22, Bee. 3.

3. The said trustees, under the penalty of twenty-five dollars
each, shall accept such office, and shall meet at the almshouse in
said county on the first Tuesday of May then next ensuing,
(unless prevented by sickness or other unavoidable accident, and
in such case as soon thereafter as the disability shall be removed,)
and qualify by taking the following oath: "I, A. B., do swear
that I will duly and faithfully discharge the duties and trusts
committed to me as a trustee for the poor of "Worcester county,
to the best of my skill and knowledge, so help me God," which
oath may be administered by any one of the trustees to the
others, any one of whom, being sworn, shall administer the same
to him.

Ibid. sec. 4.

4. No member of the general assembly, clergyman, attorney,
or practising physician, shall be obliged to accept, or shall be
liable to the penalty aforesaid for refusing to accept the office of
trustee of the poor; and no justice of the peace or sheriff, or any
one who has not the qualification to be a member of the house of
delegates, shall be eligible thereto, and no person shall be com-
pellable to serve in less than three years after he has served or
paid the penalty for not serving.

Ibid. sec. 5.

5. All vacancies happening by non-acceptance, death, resig-
nation, removal out of the county, or disqualification of any of
the said trustees, shall be filled by the county commissioners at
their next meeting thereafter.

Ibid. sec. 6.

6. The trustees so appointed and qualified are a body politic,
with power to sue and be sued, by the name of " The trustees of
the poor of Worcester county," and by that name may take, hold
and enjoy any gift, donation or present which may be given,
devised or bequeathed by any person to them for the support
and maintenance of the poor in said county.

Ibid. sec. 7.

7. They may purchase and hold any lands or tenements not
exceeding the yearly value of twenty-five hundred dollars.
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