West Virginia Code Chapter 62. Criminal Procedure § 62-7-7. Removal of convicts to penitentiary--Generally

Every person sentenced to confinement in the penitentiary shall remain in the custody of the proper officer of the court pronouncing such sentence until he be delivered to a guard sent and duly authorized by the warden of the penitentiary for the removal of such person to the penitentiary. If such officer fail to make such delivery upon the request of such court, he shall forfeit one hundred dollars. The warden of the penitentiary shall, so far as consistent with the safe conveyance of prisoners to the penitentiary, cause as many prisoners from the same or several counties to be removed to the penitentiary at the same time, and to that end shall send with the guard authorized to receive such prisoners as many additional guards as are necessary for the purpose, having due regard to economy as well as to the safe conveyance of the prisoners. If in the judgment of the officer of the court pronouncing sentence any facts exist making proper the employment of more guards than usual, he shall bring such facts to the attention of the warden of the penitentiary. The necessary expenses of every such prisoner or convict during his removal to the penitentiary, as well as the necessary expenses of the guard sent for that purpose, shall be paid by the auditor out of the funds appropriated for criminal charges.