354 JUSTICES OF THE PEACE. [ART. 51.

elected by the legal and qualified voters thereof at the time of
electing justices in the other districts and wards, two justices of
the peace, unless a different number be specially provided by law.

CIVIL JURISDICTION.

5. Any justice of the peace of the county where the defendant
resides may, if the case be within his jurisdiction, try, hear and
determine the matter in controversy between the plaintiff and
defendant, upon full hearing of the allegations and evidence of
both parties, and shall give judgment according to the laws of the
land, and the equity and right of the matter.

6. Bach justice of the peace shall keep a docket, and therein
record and make regular entries of his proceedings in all cases
in which he shall act in virtue of his office; and he shall furnish
the plaintiff and defendant respectively with a copy of any judg-
ment by him given when required.

7. If any justice shall omit to keep a docket, so that by such
neglect or omission the plaintiff (having obtained a judgment
before such justice) shall lose his debt, the justice shall satisfy to
the said plaintiff the debt, interest and costs so lost.

8. Bach justice shall also keep a full alphabet or index to his
docket, under a penalty of two dollars, to be recovered on pre-
sentment by the grand jury, one-half to the informer and the
other half to the use of the county.

9. If a justice shall resign, or be removed from his office, he
shall deliver his docket, together with all the notes, bonds, ac-
counts and papers in his possession, appertaining to judgments or
suits entered thereon, to the clerk of the Circuit Court for the
county in which such justice resides, within one month after
such resignation or removal; if a justice dies, the delivery afore-
said shall be made by his administrator, or other person in whose
hands the said docket and papers may be, within thirty days
after receiving the same.

10. If a justice in Baltimore city dies, resigns, or is removed,
the delivery of the docket and papers shall be made to the clerk
of the Court of Common Pleas within the time mentioned in the
preceding section.