Shereffe

The body of the lordship of CaerdifE in South Wales. Pow. Hist. Wal. 123. SHERIFF (Sax. seyre, shire, reve, keeper). A county officer representing the executive or administrative power of the state within his county. The office is said by Camden to have been created by Alfred when he divided England into counties; but Lord Coke is of opinion that it is of still greater antiquity, and that it existed in the time of the Romans, being the deputy of the earl {comes), to whom the custody of the shire was originally committed, and hence known as vice comes.

Camden, 156; Co. Litt. 168a; Dalton, Sheriff, 5.

The office was anciently of great dignity, and conferred considerable judicial power.

1 Bl. Comm. 117; 3 Bl. Comm. 80.

In the United States, he is the chief peace ofl Scer of the county, is the custodian of the county jail, and executes the civil and criminal process and mandates of the courts within his county.