Case ID: mo_11/html/0613-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Soott, J.,", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

THE STATE OF MISSOURI vs. HOWELL & SHANKS.
    A sheriff has no power to take a recognizance for the appearance of a person arrested for a contempt of court.
    APPEAL from Buchanan Circuit Court.
   Soott, J.,

delivered the opinion of the Court.

Howell was arrested in vacation, by the sheriff of Buchanan county, for a contempt offered to the Circuit Court.

The sheriff took from him a recognizance to appear at the next term of the court to answer for the offence. The party not appearing a forfeiture was taken, on which a scire facias issued. A demurrer to the scire facias was sustained by the Circuit Court.

There is no law authorizing a sheriff to take a recognizance under the circumstances in which this was taken; therefore, his act was without authority and void.

The other Judges concurring,

the judgment will be affirmed.