592                      Laws of Maryland                        [Ch. 413

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That sub-sections (c) and (d) of Section 96 of Article 27 of the
Annotated Code of Maryland (1956 Supplement), title "Crimes and
Punishments", sub-title "Desertion of Wife or Child", be and they
are hereby repealed and re-enacted, with amendments, to read as
follows:

96.

(c)     In certain counties trial magistrates have concurrent juris-
diction with circuit court.—Provided that in Anne Arundel, Caro-
line, Carroll, Cecil, Charles, Dorchester, Frederick, Garrett, Harford,
Montgomery, Prince George's, Queen Anne's, St. Mary's, Somerset,
Talbot, [Wicomico] and Worcester counties, the trial magistrates
shall have concurrent jurisdiction with the circuit court of each of
the respective counties to try persons violating the provisions of
this sub-title. And further provided, that in Allegany County the
justice of the peace, known as the magistrate for juvenile cases,
shall have concurrent jurisdiction with the circuit court for said
County to try persons violating the provisions of this sub-title and
that imprisonment of offenders shall not exceed two years.

(d)     Special provision for Washington County and Wicomico
County.—In addition to the other duties now imposed by law upon
the magistrate for juvenile cases in Washington County, and upon
the trial magistrates in Wicomico County, he or they shall have
original and exclusive jurisdiction to hear, try and determine all
cases involving desertion of or the wilful neglect by a husband or
father to provide for the support and maintenance of his wife or
minor child or children, or by a child to provide for the support and
maintenance of needy parents in accordance with the provisions of
this section and of § 112 of this article, upon a warrant or warrants
issued for that purpose. Any person convicted of said charge and
feeling aggrieved by the decision or any order of the magistrate or
magistrate for juvenile cases passed pursuant to the authority vested
in him as above set forth may at any time prior to the beginning of
the next jury term of the circuit court for [Washington] the Coun-
ty, appeal therefrom to the said circuit court for [Washington] the
County, upon posting bond for his appearance at the ensuing term
of said court, in such penal sum as the magistrate for juvenile cases
may determine, executed by the party requesting said appeal, with
or without surety, in the discretion of said magistrate. The State's
attorney for [Washington] the County may also enter an appeal to
the circuit court for [Washington] the County on behalf of the
State of Maryland in any case coming within the provisions of this
section at any time that he feels that the interest of justice may so
require. The pendency of any such appeal or application therefor
shall not suspend the order of the magistrate for juvenile cases un-
less specifically so ordered by the judges of the circuit court for
[Washington] the County and the judgment or order of the said
magistrate for juvenile cases shall be final unless reversed, revised
or modified by the circuit court for [Washington] the County upon
appeal.

Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That this Act shall take effect
June 1, 1957.

Approved March 28, 1957.