Chap. 297.—An ACT to Amend and Re-enact Section 27, Uhapter 49 of the
Code of Virginia, (edition of 1860,) in Regard to the Return of Process.

Approved March 31, 1871.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly, That section
twenty-seven of chapter forty-nine of the Code of Virginia,
(edition of eighteen hundred and sixty), be amended and re-
enacted so as to read as follows:

““§ 27. Every officer to whom any order, warrant or process
may be lawfully directed, shall make true return thereon of
the day and manner of executing the same, and subscribe his
name to such return. Where the service is by a deputy, such
deputy shall subscribe to the return his own name as well as
that of his principal. With such order, warrant, or process,
there shall be returned any bond taken, and an account of sales
made under the same, specifying therein the several articles sold,
the persons to whom sold, and the prices thereof. Such return
shall be to the court from which such order, warrant, or pro-
cess emanates, or to which it is returnable, and in other cases,
not specially provided for, shall be to the court by which the
officer was appointed, or in which he qualified. Where a rule
is made under any such order, warrant, or process, and no par-
ticular time for such return is prescribed therein, or by statute,
the return shall be made within thirty days after the rule. Any
officer failing to comply with this section shall forfeit twenty
dollars, and if he make a false return, shall forfeit therefor one
hundred dollars. And if upon the return day of any process
issued by a clerk of a court of record, the process shall not
have been returned, it shall be the duty of said clerk to issue
a rule against the officer to whom said process was directed,
returnabls to the first day of the next succeeding term of the
court, to appear and show cause why he shall not be fined for
his said default.”
2. This act shall be in force from its passage.