MODERN SHERIFFS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 229, 27 September 1941, Page 13

MODERN SHERIFFS

MODERN American sheriffs are no longer "two-gun men" in spite of current fiction, nor are they restricted to the "wild west" —but they are" still associated with politics. New York City's five sheriffs are held by advocates of county reform to be an unnecessary burden on the taxpayers. They are, like many other fixtures of America's legal system, a holdover from ancient English practice. The title has no connection at all with the sheriffs of Arabian countries, they being noblemen and tribal leaders. The name instead comes from the title "shire-reeve," or custodian of the peace of a county.

In England the office is for the most part honorary, and in some cases even hereditary. The holder of the office is usually a magistrate, but he cannot act as one while he is sheriff. The familiar word "bailiwick" was first used to define the area of the reeve's authority. "Sheriff-tooth" was" another odd term, defining an odd function. The man who performed it was charged with supplying hospitality for the sheriff at the county court. In turn the sheriff had a similar duty of providing hospitality for the judges during the assizes. "Riding with the sheriff" was a duty and privilege enjoyed by the principal men of the shire, bringing wine and choice foods to assist the sheriff in playing host Present-day sheriffs in New York are charged principally with the maintenance of county gaols and the custody of prisoners. They also accept service of various court papers and execute others. They conduct sales of personal and real property under court processes, such as bankruptcy, and are often charged with the duty of providing food and lodging for jurors. They are elected once in four years and are allowed to appoint undt-r-sheriff?, deputies and assistant deputies. -i $-