If an officer taking property under execution die before the sale thereof, and there be no deputies of such officer acting in the case, upon a suggestion of the fact a writ of venditioni exponas may be directed to the sheriff or other officer of the county or city wherein the property was taken. Whereupon the officer to whom the writ is directed shall take possession of the property previously levied upon, whether the same be in possession of the representatives of the deceased officer or the execution debtor, and proceed to advertise and sell it and account for the proceeds thereof in like manner as if the levy had been made by himself.