Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. to arrest (for debt); thus bumming n., arresting.

1700		N. Ward London Spy XVI 391: His next Degree of Ascension is to be a Bayliffs Follower, so that by Catching Strumpets by the Belly and Debtors by the back, he makes a Decent shift, betwixt Pimping and Bumming, to Sing Hall-la-loo over Usquebaugh.
1760		B. Weatherby Great News from Hell 23: Have I not sent to you Time after Time, when I have been bummed, and never could make you pay a Debt of above two Guineas or so.
1797		‘T.B. Junr.’ Pettyfogger Dramatized I i: I’ll bum him. —There, swear the Affadavit, and give the writ to Snap.—Tell him if he don’t bum the Defendant he shall never bum for me again.
1809		G. Andrewes Dict. Sl. and Cant.
1811		Lex. Balatronicum n.p.: TO BUM. To arrest a debtor. The gill bummed the swell for a thimble; the tradesman arrested the gentleman for a watch.
1823		‘Jon Bee’ Dict. of the Turf, the Ring, the Chase, etc.
1839		Crim.-Con. Gaz. 1 June 176/3: Let this overbearing publican [a former bailiff] know, that the time may not be far distant when his career will be ended [...] and he may be glad to return to ‘Bumming’.
c.1850		Duncombe New and Improved Flash Dict.

2. (Irish/Scot./US) to set the bailiffs on.

1822		Life and Trial of James Mackcoull 25: You treat me with neglect. I must cut with you: but it will be your own fault if I bum you, for I don’t like to do an ungenteel thing.
1848		Bell’s Life in Sydney 13 May 2/3: [She] then called on her to state, like an honest woman, whether or no she had not been bummed.

3. to serve with a summons.

1984

Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 153/1: C.19–20.