Green’s Dictionary of Slang

the lowest rank of bailiff, a ‘bum bailiff’.

1762		E. Collins ‘Modern Metamorphosis’ Misc. 30: ’Twas thus two Blades of the Excise, Had on a Porter fix’d their Eyes, Unluckily who cross’d their Way, Beneath a Load of fragrant Tea; The Scent affects the Lurchers Nose Still they pursue where’er he goes [...] The Sack is search’d, says John, what’s this? How strange a Metamorphosis! [...] Abash’d the Lurchers sneak’d away.
1785, 1788, 1796		Grose Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue.
1811		Lex. Balatronicum.
1823		‘Jon Bee’ Dict. of the Turf, the Ring, the Chase, etc.
1839		(con. 1703) W.H. Ainsworth Jack Sheppard (1917) 17: Where are the lurchers?