1252 ARTICLE 27

1936 (Special Sess.), ch. 106, sec. 470A.

549. Every person who shall be convicted of the crime of receiving any
stolen money, goods or chattels, under the value of twenty-five dollars,
knowing the same to be stolen or of the crime of receiving any bond, bill
obligatory, bill of exchange, promissory note for the payment of money,
bank note, paper bill of credit, or certificate granted by or under the
authority of this State, or the United States, or any of them, under the
value of twenty-five dollars, knowing the same to be stolen, shall restore
such money, goods or chattels or things taken and received to the owner
thereof or make restitution to the value of the whole or such part thereof as
shall not be restored and shall be fined not more than fifty dollars or im-
prisoned for not more than eighteen months in the House of Correction or
jail, or both fined and imprisoned; provided that all actions or prosecu-
tions hereunder shall be commenced within two years after the commission
of said offense.

All prosecutions for violation of the provisions of this section may be
either upon presentment and indictment in any court having criminal
jurisdiction in this State, or by trial before any justice of the peace in and
for the county where the offense occurs (but not applicable to the justices
of the peace in and for Baltimore City, who have no such power or juris-
diction conferred upon them by virtue.of sections 548 and 549), and juris-
diction original and concurrent with the said courts having criminal
jurisdiction is hereby given to the said justices of the peace (excluding
the justices of the peace in Baltimore City), and they shall have power to
issue all processes and do all acts which may be necessary for the exercise
of said jurisdiction; and may try and determine all such cases and may
pronounce judgment and impose sentence therein to the same extent as the
aforesaid courts having criminal jurisdiction could do in such cases, if
such cases were tried before such court without a jury; provided, however,
that if any person when brought before any such justice having jurisdic-
tion of the case, shall, before the trial for the alleged offense, pray a jury
trial, or if the State's Attorney for the county where the offense occurs
shall, before the trial of such alleged offense, pray a jury trial on behalf
of the State, it shall be the duty of such justice to commit such alleged
offender for trial, or to hold him to bail to appear for trial in the Court
having criminal jurisdiction in the case, at its then or next session and to
transmit said commitment or recognizance with the names and residences
of the witnesses for the prosecution endorsed thereon, forthwith to the Clerk
of said Court; and the justice of the peace, before whom the accused is
brought for trial, shall inform him seasonably of his right to demand a trial,
by jury.

Provided further that jurisdiction to try and determine all cases under
Sections 548 and 549, occurring within the City of Baltimore, shall
remain in the Criminal Court of Baltimore City exclusively.

Provided further that nothing in these sections shall be construed to
change, enlarge or diminish the jurisdiction of Justices of the Peace in any
of the Counties of the State who are herein specifically vested with author-
ity to hear, try and determine cases under this Section, but that only such
Justices are vested with authority herein as would have jurisdiction and
authority to hear, try and determine cases of violation of the law before
June 1, 1936.

See notes to sec. 549.