LAWS OF MARYLAND.— 1785-86.

235

SEC. 14. And be it enacted. That in all cases of replevins
hereafter to be issued and executed, the court to which such
replevins are returned, respectively, shall have full power and
authority, upon a motion being made by the defendant for a
return of the property taken in consequence of such replevins,
to inquire into the circumstances and manner of the defendant's
obtaining possession of such property, and if it shall appear that
such possession was forcibly or fraudulently obtained, or that
the possession first being in the plaintiff was got or retained by
the defendant without proper authority or right derived from the
plaintiff, then the court may refuse to order a return to the
defendant until a judgment is given in the action.

CHAPTER 87.
AN ACT concerning Jurisdiction.
This law is merged in 1804, ch. 55; in 1791, ch. 68; in 1801, ch. 74 j
except the 7th section.

Court may
inquire into
circumstan-
ces, &c.

SEC. T. And be it enacted, That the justices of the several
and respective county courts shall have full power and autho-
rity, unless in cases particularly directed by law to be tried in
the general court, to try, according to law, all and every person
and persons who have committed or shall commit any offence
or crime whatsoever, although it may subject such person or
persons to the pains of death ; and upon conviction of the
offender or offenders, in due course of law, in the county court
of the county in which the crime or offence shall be committed,
give judgment according to the nature, and quality of the crime
or offence.
Continued by 1798, ch. 71, to 1805, and since continued by the annual
continuing law.

CHAPTER 88.
AN ACT to vest certain powers in the Governor and the Council.
To negotiate a loan and treat with the Indians.

NOVEMBER, 1786.— CHAPTER 10.

AN ACT to prevent any person from acting as an attorney at law in the
county where he is register of wills.

County
courts may
try persons,
&c.

Be it enacted, by the General Assembly of Maryland, That
from and after the twenty-fifth day of March next, no person,
being register of wills for any county in this state, shall plead
as an attorney at law in any court in the county where he is
register of wills, for any person or persons, on any pretence
whatsoever ; and no register of wills as aforesaid, shall exact,
extort, demand, take, accept or receive, from any person what-
soever, any fee or fees, gratuity, gift or reward, for giving his

Register
not to plead
&c.