CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS. 359

Grand Jury of said County or City of Baltimore, makes known his desire
to enter a plea of guilty to such charge or charges in the Circuit Court
of the County or in the Criminal Court of the City of Baltimore, wherever
the said crime is alleged to have occurred, no indictment or indictments
charging such offense or offenses shall be necessary to be returned by the
Grand Jury of the said County or City of Baltimore; but the State's
Attorney of said County or City of Baltimore may prepare a Criminal
Information or Informations setting forth the charge or charges, and the
defendant shall have the right to enter a plea of guilty thereon and the
Circuit Court of the Counties and the Criminal Court of Baltimore City,
having jurisdiction thereof, shall thereupon proceed to hear any evidence
desired by the said Court and shall pass judgment for the offense or
offenses in the said case or cases.

Provided, however, that nothing in this section shall be construed as to
relate to or change the proceedings in cases of misdemeanor which may
be punishable with death and which said misdemeanors shall be prosecuted,
as heretofore, after presentment and indictment by the Grand Juries of
the Counties of this State or the City of Baltimore.

And provided further that nothing in this Act shall change or affect
the jurisdiction of Justices of the Peace or Police Justices to hear, try
and determine any cases, in which they have original or concurrent juris-
diction as heretofore conferred, but that the said Justices of the Peace
or Police Justices shall continue to exercise all duties and authority as
to such matters, within their jurisdictions, as was conferred prior to the
passage of this Act.

And provided further that nothing in this Act shall prevent the Grand
Jury of any of the Counties of the State or the City of Baltimore from
considering and taking action, by way of presentment and indictment or
otherwise, in any such case, if the said Grand Jury deems it desirable
to proceed by way of presentment and indictment instead of by way of in-
formation.

Procedure—Indictments—Amendment.

551.

To note to this section, page 1140, vol. 1, of Code, add State v. Barrett, 148
Md. 155.

Indictments—Statement of Ownership or Possession.

552.

This section referred to in construing sec. 551. See notes thereto. State v.
Barrett, 14S Md. 157.

Indictments—Quashing—Arrest of Judgment.

553.

Indictment not defective because it alleges time of offense as on or about
certain date; policy of this section. Brunner v. State, 154 Md. 657.