N.C. Gen. Stat. § 17-45: Duty of officer to whom writ delivered or on whom served.

It is the duty of the officer to whom the writ is delivered or upon whom it is served, whether such writ is directed to him or not, upon payment or tender of the charges allowed by law, and the delivery or tender of the bond herein prescribed, to obey and return such writ according to the exigency thereof upon pain, on refusal or neglect, to forfeit to the party on whose application the same has been issued the sum of five hundred dollars ($500.00). (1868-9, c. 116, s. 42; Code, s. 1668; Rev., s. 1860; C.S., s. 2247.)