634

LAWS OF MARYLAND.— 1815.

CHAPTER 163.

*1791 ch.

78.

A further SUPPLEMENT to the ACT,* entitled, an Act respecting the Equity
Jurisdiction of the County Courts.

See notes to 17S5, ch. 72, ante page 208.

Preamble.

WHEREAS, some doubts are entertained whether the original
act, and the supplements thereto, to which this is an additional
supplement, confer on the county courts a concurrent jurisdic-
tion within their respective districts, in all cases with the court
of chancery within this state ; therefore,

Jurisdiction.

Sec. 1. Be it enacted, by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That the several county courts of this state, by virtue of the
said original act, and the supplements thereto, are to all intents
and purposes invested with all and singular the powers, authori-
ties and jurisdictions, that can or may be exercised by the
chancellor of this state, whether the same be derived from the
common law, or in virtue of any statute or act of assembly
heretofore passed.

May decree
in case of
bill to com-
plete speci-
fic perfor-
mance of a
contract,
and decree
according
to equity.

SEC. 2. And be it enacted, That in case any bill to complete
the specific performance of any contract shall be filed in any
county court of a county in which the respondent or respon-
dents do reside, although the specific performance is to be exe-
cuted in some other place, the said court are hereby authorized
to hold plea thereof, and to decree according to the equity of
the case, and the said decree shall have the same force and
effect as a decree of the chancellor would have had, and be
enforced in the same manner, provided that in case of a decree
for the specific performance of a contract to convey real property
lying in a different county, an office copy of such decree shall
be first filed with the clerk of the county where such real estate
may lie and be recorded.

Respon-
dents resi-
ding in
different
counties,
complainant
may elect
in which to
file his bill.

SEC 3. And be it enacted, That when two or more respon-
dents reside in different counties, the complainant or complain-
ants may elect in which county to file his bill, and in such case
a duplicate subpoena or subpoenas shall issue to such county or
counties wherein such respondent or respondents may reside,
and the same proceedings may be had and enforced to compel
the appearance of the party or parties, as if such respondent or
respondents respectively resided in the county in which such
bill may have been filed.

Commis-
sioners to
take
answers.

SEC. 4. And be it enacted. That the said courts are hereby
authorized and empowered to issue commissions, as well to take
the answer or answers of any respondent or respondents, as also
to take the deposition or depositions of any witness or witnesses,
as well in the county wherein the bill of complaint may be filed,
as also in any other county or counties wherein any respondent
or witness may reside.