514 - Confinement of civil prisoner.

§  514. Confinement of civil prisoner.  A civil prisoner, committed to  jail upon process for contempt, or committed for misconduct  in  a  case  prescribed  by  law,  must  be actually confined and detained within the  jail, until he is discharged by due course of  law,  or  is  removed  to  another  jail  or  place  of confinement, in a case prescribed by law. A  sheriff or keeper of a jail, who suffers such a prisoner to go or be  at  large  out  of his jail; except by virtue of a writ of habeas corpus, or  by the special direction of the court  committing  him,  or  in  a  case  specially  prescribed  by law; is liable to the party aggrieved, for his  damages sustained thereby, and  is  guilty  of  a  misdemeanor.  If  the  commitment was for the nonpayment of a sum of money, the amount thereof,  with interest, is the measure of damages.