For oppression in office, whether by undue personal violence, cruelty or taking an amount of property in an unreasonable proportion to the sum to be collected, or for any willful official misconduct, habitual negligence, habitual drunkenness or fraud, a constable shall be liable to an action for damages by the party aggrieved. But if in any such action the plaintiff fails to recover he shall be liable to be mulcted in double or treble costs, by order and at the discretion of the presiding judge.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 43-329; 1952 Code Section 43-329; 1942 Code Section 3742; 1932 Code Section 3742; Civ. C. '22 Section 2275; Civ. C. '12 Section 1479; Civ. C. '02 Section 1054; G. S. 869; R. S. 912; 1839 (11) 81.