942

LAWS OF MARYLAND.— 1827.

detected in killing or injuring sheep, and the same shall be
proved by oath or affirmation, before a justice of the peace, that
upon complaint to the owner or owners of said dog or dogs, he
shall proceed forthwith to kill said dog, and on refusal to do so,
he shall be liable to pay to the owner of said sheep, double the
value of the same, to be recovered before any justice of the
peace of the state of Maryland, with costs, in the manner now
prescribed for the recovery of small debts out of court.

Sheep ex-
empt from
taxation.

SEC. 2. And be it enacted, That all sheep belonging to the
citizens of this state, be free from taxation for the term of five
years from and after the passage of this act.

CHAPTER 201.

AN ACT relative to vacant State Lands in Washington County.

Vacant
lands may
be taken np

SEC. 1. Be it enacted, by the General Assembly of Mary land,
That all vacant lands in Washington county, may hereafter be
taken up by common or special warrant, or warrant of resurvey
in the usual manner, at twenty-five cents per acre, one-half to
be paid at the time of obtaining the warrant, and the other half
on the return of the certificate : Provided, that all warrants
already issued shall be compounded on, agreeably to the law
under which they were respectively obtained.

Acts in-
consistent
herewith
repealed.

SEC. 2. And be it enacted, That all laws heretofore passed on
this subject, which are contrary to, or inconsistent with the
provisions of this act, be, and the same are hereby repealed.

CHAPTER 208.

* 1820, ch.
191.

. A SUPPLEMENT to the ACT,* entitled, an Act to amend and reduce into
one system the laws to direct Descents.

Authority
to fill va-
cancies of
of corn mis
sioners.

SEC. 1 Be it enacted, by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That in case of the death, inability, or removal out of the state,
of the commissioners, or a majority of such commissioners
appointed under and by virtue of the act to which this is a sup-
plement, without having executed the duties prescribed by such
commissioners, it shall be the duty of the court issuing the
commission, on the application of any person interested therein,
and such court is hereby authorized and empowered to appoint
commissioners to fill up the vacancies occurring, and to em-
power the persons appointed in connection with the remaining
commissioner or commissioners theretofore appointed, to execute
the duties prescribed by the commission, as fully in every re-
spect as if such person had been originally named in said
commission.

Preamble

And whereas, doubts have arisen as to the power of the
county courts to receive the written election or refusal made out
of court of such person or persons as may be entitled to elect or