Constable

A public civil of Bcer whose general duty is to keep the peace within a certain district, but who is by statute charged with certain duties in the service of process, — in this country process issued from justices' courts, keeping juries, etc. Constables are of two kinds, — high constables and petit constables. High constables are in England peace ofl Scers of hundreds and franchises, and in this country the chiefs of the constabulary force of the cities. Petit constables are peace officers of towns and parishes.

In English law

Constable of a castle: an officer having charge of a castle; a warden, or keeper; otherwise called a castellain. v. Castellain. Constable of England, or Lord High Constable: a high officer of state, established in England on the Norman Conquest, who was at the same time commander-in-chief of the forces of the kingdom, and keeper of the peace of the nation. Constable of Scotland: an officer entitled to command the army in the absence of the king, and to take cognizance of all crimes committed within four miles of the king's person.