The Governor may, whenever there are reasonable grounds for the belief that the laws of this State have been violated and it is necessary for the purpose of securing the arrest of the persons offending that a reward should be offered for the arrest and conviction of such persons, issue a proclamation offering such reward as in the opinion of the Governor and the Attorney General is proper for such arrest and conviction. Upon the arrest and conviction, the amount so offered shall be paid upon a warrant drawn by the Governor on the State Treasurer in favor of the persons, certified by the Attorney General to be entitled thereto, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated. The reward shall not exceed the sum of $250 in cases of felonies not capital and shall not exceed the sum of $2,000 in capital felonies. No reward shall be paid to any officer who arrests such person in the regular discharge of the officer's duty by virtue of process in the officer's hands to be executed nor to any person who has arrested the offender previous to the publication of the reward.