BAILIFF
Legal Term: BAILIFF
Definition: account render. A bailiff is a person who has, by delivery, the custody and administration of lands or goods for the benefit of the owner or bailor, and is liable to render an account thereof. Co. Lit. 271, 2 Leon. 245, 1 Mall . Ent. 65. The word is derived from the old French word bailler, to bail, that is, to deliver. Originally, the word implied the delivery of real estate, as of land, woods, a house, a part of the fish in a pond, Owen, 20, 2 Leon. 194, Keilw. 114 a, b, 37 Ed. III. 7, 10 H. VII. 7, 30, but was afterwards extended to goods and chattels. Every bailiff is a ,receiver, but every receiver is not a bailiff. Hence it is a good plea that the defendant never was receiver, but as bailiff. 18 Ed. III. 16. See Cro. Eliz. 82-3, 2 Anders. 62-3, 96-7 F. N. B. 134 F, 8 Co. 48 a, b.
2. From a bailiff is required administration, care, management, skill. He is, therefore, entitled to allowance for the expense of administration, and for all things done in his office, according to his own judgment, without the special direction of his principal, and also for casual things done in the common course of business: 1 Mall. Ent. 65, (4) 11, 1 Rolle, Ab. 125, 1, 7, Co. Lit. 89 a, Com. Dig. E 12 Bro. Ab. Acc. 18 Lucas, Rep. 23 but not for things foreign to his office. Bro. Ab. Acc .26, 88, Plowd. 282b, 14, Com. Dig. Acc. E13, Co. Lit. 172, 1 Mall. Ent. 65, (4) 4. Whereas, a mere receiver, or a receiver who is not also a bailiff, is not entitled to allowance for any expenses. Bro. Ab. Acc. 18, 1 Mall. Ent. 66, (4) 10, 1 Roll. Ab. 118, Com. Dig. E 13, 1 Dall. 340.
3. A bailiff may appear and plead for his principal in an assize, " and his plea com- mences " thus, " J. S., bailiff of T. N., comes " &c., not " T. N., by his bailiff, J. S., comes," &c. 2 Inst. 415, Keilw. 117 b. As to what matters he may plead, see 2 Inst. 414.
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