When a sheriff or other public officer authorized to execute process, finds, or has reason to apprehend that resistance will be made to the execution of the process, he may command as many male inhabitants of his county as he may think proper, and may in manner and form as provided by law, and not otherwise, call any military company or companies in the county, armed and equipped, to assist him in overcoming the resistance, and if necessary, in seizing, arresting and confining the resisters and their aiders and abettors, to be punished according to law.
R.L.1910, § 5580.