BALTIMORE CITY. 1049

plead to such declaration within the time and upon the terms prescribed
by the rules of the court, or judgment by default may be entered against
him as provided by said rules.

1886, ch. 184. P. L. L. (1888), Art. 4, sec. 165.

310. Every suit in which any defendant shall be returned summoned,
shall stand for trial or judgment (as against such defendant) at the
return day next succeeding the day to which he has been summoned;
provided, the declaration shall have been filed in court, and a copy thereof
shall have been served on the defendant, or his attorney, at least fifteen
days before said return day; and all such suits in which final judgment
is not entered on that day, shall then be put at the end of the trial calendar
of the court in which they are brought, in the order in which they were
instituted in said court, and shall be finally disposed of as far as possible
when reached in their regular course.

Fick v. Towers, 152 Md. 336.

1886, ch. 184. P. L. L. (1888), Art. 4, sec. 166.

311. In all cases in which a party by law would be entitled to a con-
tinuance, the court may, instead of continuing the cause to the next term,
postpone the same for thirty days, or such other period as will best subserve
the interests of justice.

Smithson v. U. S. Telegraph Co., 29 Md. 165.

SPEEDY JUDGMENT ACT.

1858, ch. 323. 1864, ch. 6, sec. 7. 1886, ch. 184, sec. 170. P. L. L. (1888), Art. 4,

sec. 167. 1894, ch. 173.

312. In any suit, when the cause of action is a contract, whether in
writing or not, or whether expressed or implied, the plaintiff, if affidavit
or affirmation be made, as hereinafter stated, shall be entitled to judg-
ment to be entered by the Court of the clerk thereof, on motion, in writ-
ing, at any time after fifteen days from the return day to which the
defendant shall have been summoned, although the defendant may have
pleaded, unless such plea contains a good defense and unless the defend-
ant or some one in his behalf shall, under oath or affirmation, state every
plea so pleaded by the defendant is true; and shall further state the
amount of plaintiff's demand, if anything, admitted to be due or owing,
and the amount disputed, and further, that the affiant verily believes the
defendant will be able at the trial of the cause to produce sufficient evi-
dence to support the plea as to the portion disputed, and that he is
advised by counsel to file the said plea; and such plea shall be accom-
panied by a certificate of counsel that he so advised the party making
such oath or affirmation, and if the co-partnership or incorporation of
any of the parties to the suit shall be alleged in the declaration and the
affidavit to be filed therewith, as hereinafter provided; or if there shall
be filed with the declaration in said cause, any paper purporting to be
signed by any defendant therein, the fact of such alleged co-partnership