falsely  pretending  to  be  an  officer,  or  a  juryman,i  or  one  having
authority  to  discharge  soldiers,^  and  acting  as  such  ;  counterfeit-
ing the  processes,  or  altering  the  records,  of  a  court ;  ^  —  these
and  other  like  obstructions  of  public  justice  are  indictable  at  the
common  law.
§  469.   Refusing  to  assist  Officer.  —  In  circumstances  wherein

;  private  persons  are  lawfully  called  upon  by  an  officer  to  assist  him
in  official  duties,  it  results  from  principles  abeady  laid  down,*

'  that,  if  without  lawful  excuse  they  refuse  ;  or,  having  under-
taken, refuse  to  proceed  in  good  faith,  —  they  must  answer  for
the  refusal  as  a  crime.
