ALLEGANY COUNTY. 119'

upon affidavit for any cause now provided for by law, shall exist for the
benefit of the litigants.

Transfer From City Magistrate.

1927, ch. 297, sec. 179G.

331. All suits or proceedings brought before any one of the City
Magistrates of Cumberland, Maryland, and in which final judgment has,
not been rendered before this Act shall take effect, shall be transferred
to said Peoples Court on the original papers, together with a transcript
of the docket entries; said transfer shall be made by the Clerk of the Cir-
cuit Court for Allegany County, Maryland; on application of any party
to the cause and said causes shall be tried on said original papers and
docket entries; and the fact that the same was begun before thia Act takes,
effect, shall not in any way affect the rights of the parties thereto.

Exclusive and Concurrent Jurisdiction.

1927, ch. 297, sec. 179H.

332. In all suits or causes under this Act when the amount claimed or
the things in action shall not be more than $150.00, said Justices shall
have exclusive jurisdiction, subject to appeal; and the concurrent jurisdic-
tion of said Justices with the Circuit Court shall be in all cases when the
sum claimed or thing in action exceeds $150.00 and does not exceed
$300.00.

Practice.

1927, ch. 297, sec. 179-1.

333. Whenever a civil cause shall be docketed before said Justices, a
summons shall forthwith issue to the defendant or defendants, as the case
may be, returnable on a day named therein, not less than six nor more-
than ten days from the time of the filing of the suit; and if the defendant
or defendants are fully summoned and fail to appear on the return day
named therein, the cause shall be continued not less than three nor more
than five days from the return day; and if the defendant or defandants as
the case may be, fail to appear on the day to which said cause is continued,
the case shall then be tried ex parte and the judgment rendered accordingly.

1927, ch. 297, sec. 179K.

334. The practice, procedure and rules for the trial and conduct of all
causes before said Justices shall be such as have been found proper by
usage and custom where the same is found applicable, except that there
shall be no special pleading; the common counts or a like declaration, or
one similar to the Speedy Judgment Act in form, and the form of pleas
may be used; all causes of action shall begin upon the filing of a brief
copy of the claim or the instrument upon which the suit is brought;