366 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 154

after Section 51 of said Article, providing for the pay-
ment of certain Clerk's and Sheriff's costs before docket-
ing actions-at-law in The Circuit Court for Worcester
County in certain cases, and providing penalties for the
violation thereof.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of
Maryland, That two new sections be and they are hereby
added to Article 24 of the Code of Public Local Laws of
Maryland, title "Worcester County, " sub-title "Circuit
Court, " said new sections to be known as Sections 51A and
51B and to follow immediately after Section 51 of said
Article and to read as follows:

51A. The Clerk of the Circuit Court for Worcester
County shall not docket suit or issue process in any action-
at-law until the person or corporation seeking to docket
said proceeding shall first pay to said Clerk Two Dollars
and Fifty Cents ($2. 50) to be credited on the Clerk's costs
for the docketing of said proceeding and Seventy-five Cents
($. 75) additional for each Defendant named in said pro-
ceeding to be paid to the County Commissioners for the
services of the Sheriff in serving the Writ of Summons
on the Defendant or Defendants named therein.

If the Clerk of the Circuit Court shall docket any pro-
ceeding on the law side thereof without first complying
with the provisions of this Section, he shall forfeit and pay
to said Court the amount of costs due as a result of said
failure upon his part.

51B. Any person entitled to commence an action-at-law
in the Circuit Court for Worcester County, may, upon the
order of said Court, commence said action without being re-
quired to prepay the costs mentioned in Section 51A, upon
filing in said Court a statement under oath in writing, that
because of his poverty he is unable to pay the said costs,
and that he believes that he is entitled to the redress he
seeks in such action-at-law, and setting forth briefly the
nature of his alleged cause of action; provided, however,
that any wilful false swearing in any oath or affidavit
under the provisions of this section shall be punishable as
perjury under the provisions of the criminal law now or
hereafter in force in Maryland.

SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That this Act shall
take effect June 1, 1935.

Approved: April 29, 1935.