If any county officer, members of the general assembly excepted, resigns, is removed from office, or the office vacated, he shall deliver the copies of all laws and revised statutes by him received to the clerk of the circuit court of the county in which he received the same, to be deposited in the clerk’s office for use of his successor; and in case of the death of any of the officers, members of the general assembly excepted, the copies shall be delivered by his representative to the clerk; and for failure of an officer or his representative to return the copies for the space of three months, he shall forfeit the sum of five dollars, to be recovered by civil action, to the use of the county, before any associate circuit judge of the county.