GEORGE HOWARD, ESQ. GOVERNOR.

1831.

CHAPTER 208.

CHAP. 208.

An act relating to Crimes and Punishments.

Passed Mar.10, 1832

Section 1 Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Mary-
land, That any person who shall falsely make, forge, or
counterfeit, any letter or paper writing, containing a request
that any other person may pay or deliver any money, goods,
or other thing of value, on or tor the account of any person
refered to, in or by such letter or paper writing, with intent
to defraud; or any person who shall knowingly and fraudu-

Counterfeiting or-
ders, letters, &c.

lently obtain any money, goods, or other thing of value, by
means of any such letter or paper writing; or any person

Or obtaining goods
&c. thereby.

who shall knowingly and fraudulently utter or publish any
such letter or paper writing; shall upon conviction thereol,

Or uttering the
same.

be confined in the penitentiary house of this state, for a term
not less than two years nor more than ten years for each and
every offence.

Penalty.

Sec. 2. And be it enacted, That when any infant under the
age of fifteen years, shall be convicted of any indictable of-
fence,other than some malicious felony, the court before whom
such conviction shall take place, shall have full power and
authority to suspend sentence upon such convicted party,

Case conviction of
persons under If
years of age.

and bind the same to a master or mistress, whether resident
within or without this state, or to procure other employ-
ment for the same, in or out of this state, and to compel such
infant to comply with the terms of their judgment in the pre-
mises: Provided however, that no binding as aforesaid, shall

Court may bind
out.

be for a term extending beyond the age of sixteen years in
females and twenty one years in males, and that the infant
be not bound to any service in the county within which he or
she shall have been convicted.

Limitation.

Sec. 3. And be it enacted. That the several courts of this
state having jurisdiction of crimes and offences, may in
cases where recognizances to prosecute have been entered
into, and before presentment or indictment found, upon the
motion of the attorney general or his deputy, with the con-
sent of the parties injured and accused, compromise any as-
sault and battery, the party accused paying the same costs
as would have been incurred by the finding of a true bill and
plea of guilty, Provided, that such courts shall consider it
proper in reference to the peace, of the state so to do.

Courts authorised
to compromise ea-
ses of assaults and
bateries in certain
cases.

Sea 4. And be it enacted, That if any person shall mali-
ciously set fire to and burn any untenanted dwelling house,
such person shall, on conviction thereof, be confined in the
penitentiary for a term not less than two years nor more
than ten years.

Penalty for burn-
ing untenanted
houses &c.