Chap. 525.—An ACT to provide for working vagrants on public roads in the
counties of Franklin, Warren, Clarke, Augusta and the city of Staunton.

Approved February 28, 1898.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That in addi-
tion to the procedure adopted under section eight hundred and eighty-
live of the code of Virginia for the working of vagrants, that in the
counties of Franklin, W arren, Clarke and Augusta and in the city of
Staunton, it shall be made the ‘duty of the special police, constable or
sheriff of the county, or any town sergeant in said counties, upon report
that a certain person is believed to be a vagrant, to cause at once the
arrest of such person, taking him before the nearest justice of the
peace for said county, and if upon examination it shall appear that the
person apprehended is a vagrant within the meaning of section eight
hundred and eighty-four of the code of Virginia, such justice shall by
warrant conimit him to jail for the period of thirty days, and the board
of supervisors of said county may, when five or more vagrants have
been thus arrested, work them on one or more of the public roads of
the county with ball and chain when necessary for the time of their
commitment. The board shall establish rules and regulations for the
care, safe-keeping and government of such vagrants, provide proper
persons to guard them whilst at work and make provision for the pav-
ment of the expenses incident to the keeping and working such vagrants,
which expenses shall be paid out of the county treasury. In the event
the persons so consigned to labor do not conform to the rules and regn-
lations adopted by the board of supervisors the same may be enforced
by the infliction of such corporal punishment as said board mav pre-
scribe, such punishment to be executed by the jailer or officer in charge
of such vagrants.

2. The jailer of said counties shall, upon the written request of the
chairman of the board of supervisors, deliver said vagrants to the per-
son authorized to take charge of and work them, taking a& receipt in
manner provided in section three thousand nine hundred and thirty-four
of the code of Virginia.

3, Should there be established a chain- -gang in said counties under
section three thousand nine hundred and thirty-two of the code of Vir-
ginia the board of supervisors of said county, after the arrest of a
vagrant or vagrants, shall direct the delivery of such person or persons
to the party authorized to work them, and said vagrant or vagrants
shall be liable to work and be in such chain-gang, governed by all the
rules and regulations governing the same.

4. This act shall be in force from its passage.