The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-03-22
HOW KING MAKES
HIGH. SFIERIFFS.

ny "a MAnauIsE DE ToNTENoY.
ING EDWARD, Just before he
left England for Barrlia. pre-
IN sided at meeting OF his Privy
Buckingham Palace. for the purpose OF
enabling him TO perform the time
honored ceremony known as the
aprlckins OF tho shcriffs.' which for
place. on or about the day OF the
church festival OF the Fabrication OF
the Blessed Virgin. II consists In the
submission to the King OF roll Of
parchment, on which are inscribed the
names OF the nominees for the Office
OF high sheriff for the various Goun-
ties In England and Wales during the
ensuing year. one for each shire. there
being a small square against each
name. The sovereign thercupon. with
"a silver bodkin. pricks u hole in the
parchment In the square opposite the
name Of the territorial magnate who
has been selected to serve as high
sheriff OF the county for the follow
ing twelve months.
The use OF the silver bodkin dates
from those olden tines. centuries ago.
when writing was regarded as mere
monkish art and unworthy of great
princes and of gallant knights. and
when kings and emperors avoided
writing as much as they could. The
idea OF afiixins q signature. or even
sheriffs of each Of the many counties
of England and Wales was not to be
thought OF, and to facilitate matters
the practice of prickinE the names
the convenience of tho monarch. and
has been retained in use TO this day.
The Office of high sheriff carries with
it no cmoiuments. but entails consid-
anced only by the social prestige
which the office confers. the high sher-
if taking precedence OF everybody In
he county at official and social func-
the lord lieutenant One OF the du-
ties OF the high sheriff is to receive
the judges who visit the capital OF
the county for the assizesI with -four,
sorts OF medieval pomp and ceremony.
The Judge enters the assize town In a
carriage and four. provided by the
high sheriff. and Is clad for the oc-
wig such as those worn III tho time
OF Charles H. on his head. while the
high sheriff must don either uniform
or black velvet court dress. with knee
Their solemnity being lent to the spec
tacle by tire presence of the high sher-
IFS Chaplain in full canonicals.
Sporting Baronet.
The high sheriff is moreover under
obligation to furnish. at his own ex-
size. a residence and entertainment
consonant with his dignity: and the
late Lord Brampton. who figured for
so many years on the bench as Sir
grily upbraided the high sheriff OF
Norwich in court. and even imposed
upon him fine of $500. for "imprison-
ing me in a bleak house on frozen
of large suburban residence, pleas,
antly situated In Drettily wooded
park. The judges are strictly pro-
hibited from taking up their resi-
ling the assizes, and until quite recent
~ the same rule applied to the mem
bers OF the bar who accompanied the
judges on circuit. This curious rule
dIeval times, with the prcsump ton
that judges and members of the bar
would be more easily exposed to
sarges Of undue inllnenfe 4 tns residing
there than If living in private lodg-
ings.
The high sheriffs are also theoreti-
cally responsible for convicted muir,
legally accountable for their eSccu-
ton. Sill. Claude de Cresplgny. the
lwell-knoWn sporting baronet, while
high sheriff of ESSEX. took his duties
casion when an execution occurred at
Colchester. the county town Of Essex.
he Insisted upon being on the scaffold.
ingorder to- see that there was no
hitch in the proceedings II there had
been. Sir Claude would have consid-
cred 1t to be his bounden duty to lend
a hand, and had prepared himself for
this by acting as assistant to Berry,
| the official eXecutioner. on the occa-
sion of the hanging OF the three n eth
3erby Hall murderers. While Berry
ipinioned Ridge and Martin, Sir Claude
| did the same for James Baker. and adj
l3iusted the moose around his neck. On
|this becoming known. an ATTEMPT was
made to expel Sir Claude from some
OF his London clubs. but eventually
! the matter was dropped, Sir Claude
AFFAIR, and I. discusses lit frequently in
| Ills most interesting memoirs, to which
aspreface was written by the late Duke
! of Beaufort a}5f&