Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1874-09-04
00lilnlillQtol1 yonrnal.
WILMINGTON, N. G.
FRIDAY. SEPTEMBER 4. 1874.
OFFICIAL BONDS.


newly elected officers of the county are
required to give their official bonds.
The law says that "every Clerk OF the
Superior Court, County Treasurer,
Sheriff, Coroner, Register Of Deeds
and County Surveyor shall regularly
renew his official bonds before the
Board of County Commissioners, who
shall approve the same, on she first
Monday of September, of each year.
The law has thrown around the sign
ing and approval Of these bonds GER
tain safeguards which the Commission
ers for their protection, and the pro-
lection of the public, should jealousy |
regard. Indeed penalties, both civil
and criminal. are attached to the ac-
ton of any Commissioner who accepts
insufficient bonds, for the act OF the
General Assembly expressly declares
that "every Commissioner who ap-
nroyes an official bond which he
knows or believes, to be insufficient
in the penal sum or in the security
thereof, shall be liable as If he acere
sccurtty thereto, and, moreover, shall
be liable to q criminal action, and on
conviction, shall. be removed from OF
fee, and forever disqualified from
holding Office in the State" The law
requires that ''every surety on an Of
fetal bond, required by law to be
taken or renewed and approved by
the Conmissioners, shall take and
subscribe an oath, before the Chair
man of the Commissioners, that he IS
worth acertain sum (which shall not be
less than one thousand dollars) over
and above all his debts and liabilities
and his homestead and personal prop
erty exemptions, and the sum thus
sworn to shall, in no case, be less, ii
the aggregate, than the penalty OF the
bond"
The Sheriff is required to execute
three several bonds; one conditioned
for the collection, payment and settle
ment of the county, poor, school and
special taxes, in sum double tie
amount of said taxes; one for The col
lection, payment AMI settlement
Of the public taxes in Il sum double
the amount of said taxes; and a third for
the faithful execution Of the office Of
Sheriff. The sureties are made liable,
under the most stringent enactments
for all she rtcomings OF The Sheriff.
The County Treasurer is required to
give bond with three Or more sufficient
securities. The enalty of his bond
shall be at least double the amoun5 Of
county revenue for the proceeding
year.
The Clerk Of the SGperi, Court is
l. CURED at the first meeting Of the
County Commissioners after his cleo
ton, 10 rive a boz d, with sufficjent-se-
curities, III a penalty of ten thousand
dollars. Each surety shall take and
subscribe an os.-' before the Register
of Deeds, that lac is worth certain
sum, (Which shall no; BE less than one
thousand dollars over and above all
his debts and liabilities aud his home
stead exemption. Any Commissioner
approving a bond which he Knows or
believes ID be insufficient, shall be
personally liable as if he were surety
thereto.
The Register of Deeds is required
to give bond in the sum of five thous-
and dollars under the same formalities
and the same obligations are imposed
upon the Commissioners.
It will thus be seen that the law Las
thrown ample protection around the
execution of official bonds. The
amounts Of the several bonds are def
nitely fixed; the day for their execu-
ton is established; the responsibility
of the securities are required to be well
established, and he Commissioners
made liable in the highest penalties,
civil and criminal, for any neglect of
their duties. The people themselves,
who at last are most interested in the
faithful performance Of official duties
should see that the bonds given are
sufficient to secure such discharge Of
public duties as will protect them
against damage.
The Judge Will of course call the
attention of Grand Juries to this i'm
portant matter, and all parties, officers,
sureties and Commissioners held strict
ly to their responsibilities under the
Acts of the Assembly. Ii necessary
we shall refer to this subject after the
bonds shall have been approved in
this county.