Sheriffs Act, 1755

SHERIFFS ACT 1755

CHAPTER XV.

An Act to supply the Defects of an Act passed in the eleventh Year of the Reign of her late Majesty Queen Anne, intituled, An Act for explaining and amending several Statutes for prohibiting Under-Sheriffs and Sheriffs Clerks from officiating as Sub-Sheriffs or Sheriffs Clerks more than one Year.

Officers concealing themselves when sent for to take bail; no sub-sheriff or clerk shall take more than legal fees. Penalty 100l. on complaint, and proof before the court, to be estreated.

III. And whereas great cruelties and impositions are daily committed by the sub-sheriffs and sheriffs clerks concealing themselves, when sent for to take bail, in order to extort exorbitant fees: for remedy whereof be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That from and after the first day of May, which shall be in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and fifty six, no sub-sheriff or sheriffs clerk shall take any more than their legal fees; and upon complaint thereof, and due proof made before the court out of which such writ issued, such sub-sheriff, or sheriffs clerk or clerks, shall for every such offence forfeit and pay the sum of one hundred pounds; which said penalty shall be, and the said court (out of which such writ issued) is hereby impowered and required to have, estreated into his Majesty's Exchequer.