CHAP. 306.—An ACT for the relief of Sam Rankin, of Alleghany county,
Virginia. (H. B. 381.)

Approved March 20, 1916.

Whereas, a certain Joe Rankin, alias Joe Parks, was in-
dicted by a grand jury of Alleghany county, Virginia, for fel-
ony; and
Whereas, after ‘his indictment he executed a recognizance
for his appearance to answer the said indictment with one Sam
Rankin as his surety on said recognizance on June, eighteenth,
nineteen hundred and ten; and

Whereas, the said Joe Rankin, alias Joe Parks, failed to keep
his recognizance and to appear before the circuit court of Alle-
ghany county for trial, as provided therein, but absconded and
became a fugitive from justice; and

Whereas, the said Sam Rankin, his surety, made every ef-
fort to locate and capture the said fugitive from justice, trac-
ing him to North Carolina and then to Baltimore, Maryland,
where he was finally caught by the said Sam Rankin, his surety,
and returned to the custody of the circuit court of Alleghany
county at the October term, nineteen hundred and fourteen; and

Whereas, the said Joe Rankin, alias Joe Parks, was tried,
convicted and sentenced by the circuit court of Alleghany
county, Virginia, under the said indictment, at the January
term, nineteen hundred and fifteen, of the said circuit court, as
a result of the continuous efforts of Sam Rankin, his surety,
who brought him to justice at great difficulty and expense to
himself, the said Sam Rankin; and

Whereas, pending the efforts of the said Sam Rankin to cap-
ture the said fugitive from justice, the circuit court of Alle-
ghany county, Virginia, on December twentieth, nineteen hun-
dred and eleven, entered a judgment of forfeiture on the said
recognizance against the said Sam Rankin, as surety, of five
hundred dollars, and nine dollars and thirty-seven cents costs
thereof, which judgment now stands upon the judgment lien
docket of the clerk’s office of the circuit court of Alleghany
county, Virginia, against the said Sam Rankin, and binds his
little home; and

Whereas,. there is no statute that will enable the judge of
the circuit court of Alleghany county, Virginia, to re-open and
rehear the said judgment, or to cancel or declare the said judg-
ments null and void, although the said judge of the said court
is of opinion that equity and justice require that the said Sam
Rankin, who is a citizen of Alleghany county, Virginia, should
be exonerated and relieved from the said judgment, and has
certified that, in his opinion, the said judgment should be va-
cated, cancelled, and declared null and void, and no longer bind-
ing upon the said Sam Rankin; now, therefore,

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That
the said Sam Rankin be, and is, relieved of the payment of the
said judgment in favor of the Commonwealth, for the sum of
five hundred dollars, forfeiture as aforesaid, and nine dollars
and thirty-seven cents costs, and the clerk of the circuit court
of Alleghany county is directed, authorized and empowered to
endorse upon the margin of the judgment lien docket a release
of said judgment and costs, and when so endorsed said judg-
ment shall forever be null and void.