Chap. 357.—An ACT to amend and re-enact sections 890, 891, 896, and 912 of the
Code of Virginia as heretofore amended.

Approved December 8, 1903.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That sections
eight hundred and ninety, eight hundred and ninety-one, eight hundred
and ninety-six, and nine hundred and twelve of the Code of Virginia, as
heretofore amended, be amended and re-enacted so as to read as follows:

§ 890. Sheriff of city of Richmond, his election, qualification, and bond ;
duties, powers, liabilities, and emoluments.—There shall be elected at the
election on Tuesday after the first Monday in November, nineteen hundred
and five, and every four years thereafter, by the qualified voters of the
city of Richmond, one sheriff, who shall, on or before the first day of
January next succeeding his election, qualify before the circuit court of
said city, or the judge thereof in vacation, and give bond with surety in
such penalty as may be required by the said court or judge, so that the
same be not less than twenty thousand nor more than fifty thousand dol-
lars. If such qualification be in vacation, the certificate thereof and the
bonds shall be returned to the clerk of the said circuit court, who shall
enter the said certificate in the order book of the said court and record
the said bond. The said court may, whenever in its opinion it is neces-
sary for the protection of the public interest, upon a rule awarded against
such officer, require him to give a new bond, or an additional bond. If
the said sheriff shall fail to qualify and give bond on or before the first
day of January next succeeding his election, or shall fail to give a
new bond or an additional bond within ten days after an order shall
have been made requiring the same ‘to be given, in either case his office
shall be deemed vacant. Such new bond or additional bond may be given
in court, or before the judge thereof in vacation, and when given in vaca-
tion the judge shall certify the fact and return the bond to the clerk of
his court, who shall file and record the same in his office. The said sher-
iff shal] attend the circuit court, the law and equity court, and the chan-
cery court of the said city and act as the officer of said courts. He shall
exercise the same powers, perform the same duties, have the same fees
and compensation therefor, and be subject to the same penalties touching
all process issued by said courts or by the clerks of said courts, or other-
wise lawfully directed to him, that the sheriff of a county exercises, per-
forms, and is entitled or subject to in his county.

The circuit and chancery courts and the law and equity court of the
said city, respectively, shall have authority to make such allowance to the
said sheriff for services in attending said court as may to them seem
reasonable: provided, that the whole compensation so allowed shall not
exceed twelve hundred dollars.

§ 891. Coroners, how appointed and removed.—The judge of each cor-
poration court, and of each circuit court of a county of the State shall,
on the first day of January, nineteen hundred and four, and every two
years thereafter, appoint for his city or for each county, in his circuit
respectively, as the case may be, one person, who shall be the coroner of
such city or county, who shall qualify according to law, and serve until
his suecessor is appointed and qualified. If the court shall be of opinion
that one coroner is not sufficient, he may appoint as many more as to him
may seem proper. Coroners may be removed from office as provided in
section eight hundred and twenty-one of this Code for the removal of cer-
tain officers.

§ 896. Appointment of criers; their bonds.—But the circuit court of
any county or city court of any city, in the case provided for in section
eight hundred and ninety-three, may, instead of leaving the duties of
sheriff or sergeant to be performed by a coroner or constable, appoint a
crier for said court, who shall also be crier of the circuit court of such city,
and perform all the duties pertaining to the office of sheriff or sergeant
therein, except such as relate to the collection of militia fines and officers’
fees. And though persons be acting in any county as sheriff or deputy
sheriff, or in any city as sergeant or deputy sergeant, yet when it is unfit
from any cause for the sheriff or sergeant to serve any process, or to sum-
mon a jury, the court in which the case is pending may, instead of leaving
those duties to be performed by a coroner or constable, appoint some
other person to perform the same. It shall be the duty of such court to
take from any person so appointed, or from any person who has been ap-
pointed and is still acting as crier, a bond, with condition for the faithful
discharge of his duties, in such penalty as it may deem sufficient; and the
same proceedings may be had thereon as upon a bond given by a sheriff.

§ 912. In what court motions may be made.—Any motion under either
of the two preceding sections may be made in the court of the corpora-
tion, or in the circuit court of the county or corporation, in which the
default or misconduct of the deputy occurred or was committed.

%. This act shall be in force on and after the first day of February,
nineteen hundred and four.