The summons in replevin shall be executed by summoning the defendant as in other civil cases, a copy of the declaration and exhibits being attached to said summons, directing the defendant to appear before the court shown in said summons, to answer the plaintiff's declaration under oath. The officer serving said process shall determine whether or not the defendant is then in possession of the property described in the declaration and shall so indicate on his return.
Miss. Code § 11-37-135