“PRICKING” THE SHERIFFS

Evening Star, Issue 20996, 9 January 1932, Page 2

“PRICKING” THE SHERIFFS

SOME AMUSING EVASIONS To-day being “the morrow of St. Martin, 12th Nov.,” sheriffs for the counties of England and Wales will be nominated at the law courts (wrote F. Payler, in the ‘ Daily Telegraph ). It takes place in the presence of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Master of the it,oils, such judges as have been on the various circuits, and Sir George Bonner, the King’s llemembrancer. The office held by Sir George Bonner is practically the solo survival m the Supreme Court of Justice of the old Court of Exchequer, to whom in iar remote days the sheriffs paid in the revenues of the Crown they had collected in their respective counties, receiving a receipt in the shape of tallies or pieces of hazel stick cut so as to show the amount lodged. From small things great arise, it is believed, says Sir George Bonner, that the burning down of the Houses^ of Parliament in 1834 was due to a lire originating in an accumulation of tall} 7 sticks in the old Palace. Save that ho attends the judges at assizes, and has the unwelcome duty of witnessing executions, little is generally known about the sheriff. The list of persons nominated to serve as sheriffs, “ do the King’s business, and exercise authority over the administration and execution of justice ” in the various counties, is made up from names returned by the existing sheriff (except the County Palatine of Lancaster, the Duchy of Cornwall, and the County of Middlesex) to the senior judge going each respective circuit, , - The names are then sent to the King’s Bemembrancer, who puts them in a roll, three for each county. Then when the court is assembled in all tho blazonry of scarlet and black and gold, the list is read out, and opportunity given to put in objections to being on the list and excuses for being taken off. Usually these take the form of lack of means to properly uphold the dignity of the office, and physical infirmity, and from the spectators’ point of view this is by far the most diverting part of the ceremonial. I have recently turned up an account of what occurred at a sitting in 1855, when Lord Campbell was one of tho judges present. ■ . One nominee put in the excuse of “ a very irritable nervous system, which compels me to lead a quiet and retired life.” Unfortunately, however, he made the mistake of getting an under-sheriff instead of a doctor to endorse his diagnosis, and he received no pity. Lord Campbell quietly remarked that ho knew from experience that such men required rousing, and always made

capital sheriffs. So the unhappy gentleman found himself duly made sheriff. There was another case from the Principality, where a sheriff who had been “ pricked,” despite his protest of poverty, sought revenge by sending a horse gig to convey the judge to the assizes. Having, however, satisfied himself that the poverty was a myth, Ins lordship hired a carriage and pair and charged it to the sheriff. When three nominations for cadi county have been agreed upon the King’s Remembrancer causes the roll to be submitted to the King, '"■‘I 0 ; in duo time, usually early in the New Tear “ pricks ” with a bodkin the name of one to servo as sheriff. This “ pricking ” is a ceremony dating back to the reign of Queen Elizabeth The instrument used at the present dav is a bodkin with a handle or knob of silver gilt, and a round steel blade (or bodkin) ending m a sharp point. It measures over all 4J inches, and weighs 7J ounces. . .. The actual date when tins bodkin was made is uncertain, but it is thought to have been made for use by Queen Victoria when she ascended the 1 krone in 1837. • The King has in his possession an earlier bodkin, which experts think was probably made in the leign of George HI., about 1780.