Case Name: THE STATE OF MISSOURI vs. HOWELL & SHANKS
Court: Supreme Court of Missouri
Jurisdiction: Missouri
Decision Date: 1848-07
Citations: 11 Mo. 613
Docket Number: 
Parties: THE STATE OF MISSOURI vs. HOWELL & SHANKS.
Judges: The other Judges concurring,
Reporter: Missouri Reports
Volume: 11
Pages: 613–613

Head Matter:
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.

Opinion:
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.