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On suspicion of stolen goods, &c. being concealed, justices may grant search warrants, &c.
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54. If information shall be given on oath to any of the divisional justices that there is reasonable cause for suspecting that any thing stolen or unlawfully obtained is concealed or lodged in any dwelling house or any other place, it shall be lawful for such justice, by special warrant under his hand directed to any constable, to cause every such dwelling house or other place to be entered and searched at any time of the day or by night, if power for that purpose be given by such warrant; and the said justice, if it shall appear to him necessary, may empower such constable, with such assistance as may be found necessary, such constable having previously made known such his authority to use force for the effecting of such entry, whether by breaking open doors or otherwise, and if upon search thereupon made any such thing shall be found, then to convey the same before a justice, or to guard the same on the spot, until the offenders are taken before a justice, or otherwise dispose thereof in some place of safety, and moreover to take into custody and carry before the said justice every person found in such house or place who shall appear to have been privy to the deposit of any such thing, knowing or having reasonable cause to suspect the same to have been stolen or otherwise unlawfully obtained.
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