I. 2. To attend all the sessions of the Circuit Court 3. To take charge of the county jail. He is responsible for the safe keeping of the prisoners confined in the jail. The Sheriff appoints an under sheriff and deputies to assist him in the performance of his duties. He is held responsible for their acts. 1. The Sheriff and the Treasurer are prohibited by law from holding their offices longer than four years in any period of six years. The Sheriff does not receive a salary, but he receives certain fees fixed by law. 2. When there is a vacancy in the office of Sheriff, the under sheriff performs the duties of the office until another sheriff is elected. County Clerk.-The County Clerk is the clerk of the Board of Supervisors. It is his duty to keep a record of the proceedings of the Board, preserve all accounts acted on by them, and perform such other duties as they may require. He is also clerk of the Circuit Court, when it is held within the county. is required, He 1. To keep a journal of the proceedings of the Circuit Court, and preserve all books and papers belonging to the office; 2. To administer oaths to witnesses and jurors; 3. To keep a record of births, deaths, and marriages; 4. To issue marriage licenses; 5. To draw the grand and petit juries, and to perform various other duties. The County Clerk is required to appoint one or more deputies, and to designate one of them as his successor, in case of a vacancy in the office. He receives both a salary and fees, the salary being fixed by the Board of Supervisors. County Treasurer.-The County Treasurer, among his other duties, is required,- I. To receive and have charge of all money belonging to the county; 2. To receive from the Township Treasurers the State tax, and pay it over to the State Treasurer; 3. To conduct the annual sales of lands on which the taxes have not been paid. Money is paid out of the county treasury on the order of the Board of Supervisors. Money orders are signed by the clerk and countersigned by the chairman of the Board. 1. Moneys paid to the Treasurer on account of fines, forfeitures, penalties, and recognizances, are kept separate and distinct from all other accounts, and credited to the school library fund, and paid over to the Treasurers of the several townships, according to the number of school children in each township. 2. The Treasurer receives a salary, fixed by the Board of Supervisors, and fees. If there is a vacancy in the office, the deputy temporarily performs the duties. The Board of Supervisors may select a Treasurer, if the interests of the county so require. Register of Deeds.-It is the duty of the Register of Deeds to keep a record of all deeds, mortgages, and other papers which are permitted or required by law to be recorded. In this way it can be readily ascertained when property is mortgaged, and to what extent, and whether the legal title is good. All transfers of property and legal instruments are in this way preserved, so that they can easily be referred to at any time by interested parties. The Register of Deeds receives a certain amount, prescribed by law, for every one hundred words recorded. He receives other fees, but no salary. In case of a vacancy, the deputy performs the duties of the office until the vacancy is filled. Definitions.-A deed is an instrument in writing, by which real estate is transferred from one person to another. A mortgage is the conveyance of land to another as security for the payment of a debt. A title is the evidence of such a right or ownership as a person has in property. Prosecuting Attorney.-The Prosecuting Attorney is the legal officer of the county. It is his principal duty to prosecute all persons who have been charged with the commission of any crime within the county, give legal advice to county officers in the discharge of their duties, when so requested, and prosecute and defend all suits in the county in which the county is interested. The Prosecuting Attorney receives a salary, but no fees. The salary is fixed by the Board of Supervisors. When there is a vacancy, the Circuit Judge may appoint some suitable person, for the time being, to perform the duties of the office. County Surveyor.-The County Surveyor makes such surveys in the county as are required by any court or any person residing in the county. He determines the location and boundaries of lands, and keeps a record of all surveys made by himself or his deputies. All surveys are required to be made in accordance with certain principles established by law, so that there may be a uniform system of land surveying in the several counties of the State. 1. The Surveyor receives a compensation not exceeding four dollars a day and fees. 2. When there is a vacancy in the office of County Surveyor or Coroner, the Prosecuting Attorney and the County Clerk may appoint some one, for the time being, to perform the duties of the office. Coroners.-Two Coroners are elected in each county to investigate the causes of all sudden and suspicious. deaths within the county. When a dead body is found, a corner's jury of six men is assembled to ascertain, if possible, the cause of the death, and if they have reason to believe that murder has been committed, a verdict to that effect is rendered, and information of the fact is filed with the proper authorities. Their duty is an important one, and is designed to make life more secure. Coroners are sometimes required to perform the duties of a Sheriff. This is when the Sheriff is an interested party in a suit. Circuit Fudge.-A Circuit Judge is elected in what is called a judicial circuit, which usually consists of two or more counties. He goes from one county to another, and at specified times holds a session of the Circuit Court in each county within the limits of his circuit; so that he may be properly called one of the judicial officers of the county, although he is elected in a district composed of several counties. It is the duty of the Circuit Judge to preside at all sessions of the Circuit Court. He is elected at the spring election in April, for a term of six years. 1. The first circuit consists of the Counties of Lenawee and Hillsdale; the second of Cass and Berrien; the third of Wayne; etc. 2. The salary of a Circuit Judge is two thousand five hundred dollars annually, without any fees or perquisites what ever. Circuit Court Commissioners.--In each county of the State there is a Circuit Court Commissioner, and in some of the large counties there are two. They are authorized to perform all the duties and execute all the powers, in all civil cases, which a Circuit Judge may perform and execute out of court, subject, however, to certain limitations. They may, in other words, perform many of the duties that a Circuit Judge would be obliged to perform, if it were not for their assistance. 1. Testimony in a chancery suit may be taken by a Circuit Court Commissioner, and injunctions may also in some cases be granted by this officer. Circuit Court Commissioners receive fees, not a salary. 2. In counties containing a population of twenty thousand inhabitants, two Circuit Court Commissioners are required to be elected. Fudge of Probate.--In each county, a Judge of Probate is elected for a term of four years. The election |