Sheriff
2 of the 7 encyclopedias on this shelf carry an entry for Sheriff. Both are reproduced below, so you can see where they agree and where they differ.
Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
the chief officer of a shire or a county, to whom is intrusted the execution of the laws, the serving of judicial writs and processes, and the preservation of the peace. In the United States the the Legislature sheriff is either elected by or the citizens, or appointed and commis- State. The sioned by the executive of the ministerial. office is almost exclusively The sheriff in person or by deputy executes civil and criminal process throughout the county, has charge of the jail and prisoners, attends courts, and keeps the peace. His judicial authority is generally confined to ascertaining damages on writs of inquiry, etc. In England the sheriff is the chief officer of the crown in every county or county shire, to whom the charge of the is committed by letters patent. He is apof London pointed (except in the case and the county of Middlesex) by the crown out of three names submitted for who goes on each county by the judge circuit. In Scotland the sheriff is a law officer whose functions seem to have been origi- Engnally, like those of the sheriffs in land, mainly executive, but who now is judge in a county court. The office is by the appointment of the crown. Nearly all the sheriffs are now practicing lawyers resident in Edinburgh, sheriff-substitutes acting for them as local judges in the several counties. The sheriff-substitute can try criminal cases when a conviction two years will not involve more than ' of imprisonment. The lord-lieutenant a receives the hon- Scotch county sometimes orary title of sheriff-principal.
Aiton's Encyclopedia (1910)
in the United States , a court officer usually elected by a popular vote. His principal duties are to preserve peace and order throughout the county, to attend court, summon juries, serve the processes of the court and execute its judgments, to guard prisoners and produce them when called upon, arrest offenders, etc. The sheriff is authorized to appoint one or more deputies. The authority of the sheriff is greater in England than in America. He is the chief officer of the Crown in every county of shire. He is intrusted by letters patent from the Crown with the execution of the laws and the preservation of the peace, and for this purpose the entire civil force within the county is placed at his disposal. Formerly the sheriff exercised important judicial functions but generally these now devolve upon the courts themselves. In Scotland the sheriff is a judge. He has both civil and criminal jurisdiction in minor actions. He is also a judge in bankruptcy. He is not allowed to try civil cases without a jury, however. The Scotch sheriff revises the list of electors and returns the writs for the election of members of Parliament. Sherlock Holmes. See Doyle ; A. Conan