1198

LAWS OF MARYLAND.— 1835.

ral election districts, as the said district justices or a majority of
them, shall for their respective districts, fix and ascertain, and
it shall be the duty of the said district justices as soon after
their appointment and qualification as may be, and so from time
to time as the public convenience may in their judgment re-

To desig-
nate time
and place of
holding
court.

quire, to fix and designate the most suitable and convenient
days, and place or places in each election district, for holding
the said district courts at least once in every month ; and it
shall be the duty of the said district justices, on the several
days and at the places so as aforesaid fixed and designated, to

Jurisdiction
assigned.

meet and hold the said district courts, and the said district
justices or any two of them, so met, shall have jurisdiction
over and may take cognizance of all cases whatever, now
within the jurisdiction or cognizance of a single or two justices
of the peace, and in all like or similar cases, where the debt or
damages laid or claimed shall not exceed the sum of one hun-
dred dollars, and under like and similar restrictions and limita-
tions, except so far as the same may be inconsistent with the
provisions of this act; and shall have and exercise original
jurisdiction in all cases of debt or contract, expressed or im-
plied, where the debt or damages do not exceed one hundred

Cases of
replevin.

dollars; in all actions of replevin, where the value of the pro-
perty in dispute when appraised on the service of the writ of
replevin as herein after provided, does not exceed one hundred
dollars, in which actions of replevin the court may, beside ad-
judging a return of the property, award damages as in a county

Cases of
trespass.

court may be recovered in case of replevin ; in all actions of
trespass, except where the title to land is in any manner in-
volved and the persons against whom a complaint is made
under this act before the said district court, shall appear on the
return day of the warrant and alledge that he or she is entitled
to the property on which the trespass is charged to have been
committed or that he or she acted under a person, named by
him or her, claiming title to the same, and shall verify the alle-
gation by oath or affirmation, where the damages claimed, do

Actions of
trover.

not exceed one hundred dollars; in all actions of trover, where
the damages claimed do not exceed one hundred dollars ; in all

Of assault
and battery.

actions of assault and battery, where the damages claimed do
not exceed one hundred dollars; Provided, the defendant, at
the time of the suit or action being brought, resides within the
district, or does not reside in the state; and it shall be the duty
of the said district justices in all cases in which jurisdiction is

Duty to try
and de-
termine.

herein given to them, to try, hear and determine the matter in
controversy, and upon full hearing of the allegations, evidence,
and witnesses of both parties, to give judgment thereon ac-
cording to the laws of the land and equity and right of the
matter.