Aid  to  Constable,  &c.  —  Of  this  nature  is  a  declining  to  aid  a
constable  or  sheriff  in  arresting  a  person,  or  in  otherwise  serving
process,  civil  or  criminal,  or  in  preventing  an  escape.^  So,  says
Mr.  East,  "  the  mere  act  of  refusing  personal  assistance  to  the
king,  either  against  rebels  or  an  invading  army,  ...  is  a  high
misdemeanor."  ®

§  470.  Oral  Slander  of  Officer.  —  And  slanderous  words,  spoken
of  official  persons,  especially  spoken  to  them,  may  be  indictable
when  they  would  not  be  so  if  uttered  of  or  to  a  private  individ-
ual.'^    Also  —


1  Scarlet's  Case,  12  Co.  98;  Anony-
mous, March,  81,  pi.  132.  Usurping  Of-
fice. —  By  the  Constitution  of  Kentucky,
"  no  person  shall  be  eligible  to  the  office
of  commonwealth's  or  county  attorney,
unless  he  shall  have  been  a  licensed  prac-
tising attorney  for  two  years."  And  a
statute  makes  it  punishable,  "  if  any  per-
son shall  usurp  any  office  established  by
the  constitution  or  laws  of  this  common-
wealth." Consequently,  if  one  who  has
not  been  a  licensed  practising  attorney
for  two  years  accepts  the  office  on  being
elected,  and  receives  its  emoluments,  he
commits  the  statutory  offence.  Com-
monwealth V.  Adams,  3  Met.  Ky.  6.  In
Ohio,  an  officer  who,  after  serving  his
time,  in  good  faith  holds  over  tUl  his  suc-
cessor is  qualiiied,  believing  this  to  be
his  duty,  is  not  punishable  under  tlie
statute  for  usurping  office.  Kreidler  v.
