4. Additional Report.
(a). With reference to the enclosed, I have the honor to report that I assisted the Marshal of the Vice Admiralty Court at that Officer's requisition in order to prevent rendering myself liable to a prosecution for misdemeanor, had I refused to comply.
By 24 & 1 Vic. C. 10, the Court of Admiralty has the same powers of enforcing writs as Courts of Common Law. The Marshal holds the same powers in Maritime matters as the Sheriff does in Civil matters. "It is no excuse to the Sheriff to return that he 'could not execute' a precept because of resistance; he may take posse with him (13 Ed. 1. St 1. C. 39. Burn's Justice of Peace, 1845 Vol V. p. 1009).
Again, in simple circumstances of distress for rent, it may occur which "require the presence of a Police Officer, but to justify the landlord in calling him in, it must be shown that his presence was necessary either from threats of resistance or the apprehension of violence" (Skidmore v. Booth 6/8 p.977). A fortiori, therefore, the Officer executing a writ of ...