2228 ARTICLE 52

This section referred to in construing art. 56, sec. 208—see notes thereto. Crichton
v. State, 115 Md. 432.
As to amending proceedings before justice of the peace, see also art. 75, sec. 39.

An. Code, 1924, sec. 15. 1912, sec. 14A. 1914, ch. 499.

17. Every justice of the peace, police justice or other similar official
in those offenses which he has jurisdiction to hear and determine may,
in his discretion, issue a summons directed to the proper officer requiring
him to summons or give notice to the party whose attendance is required
of the nature and circumstances of the supposed offense, and of the day
and hour of the appearance of the accused before such justice of the peace,
police justice or other similar officer; and a copy of every such notice or
summons shall be served upon the accused which shall be returnable on a
day to be stated in said summons or notice, not exceeding five days from
the time of issuing the same; but the invalidity of any such notice or sum-
mons or of such service thereof shall not affect the jurisdiction of such
justice of the peace, police justice or other similar official if the accused
party appears and the charge is one of which the official issuing the notice
or summons has jurisdiction, and the said notice or summons may be
amended.

An. Code, 1924, sec. 16. 1912, sec. 14B. 1914, ch. 499.

18. Nothing in the preceding section shall prevent a justice of the
peace, police justice or other similar official from issuing a warrant of
arrest in the first instance, or at any time after the issuing of the notice or
summons mentioned in the preceding section, and when the warrant of
arrest is issued it shall supersede and nullify any outstanding notice or
summons issued under the provisions of the last preceding section.

Dockets.

An. Code, 1924, sec. 17. 1912, sec. 15. 1904, sec. 13. 1888, sec. 12. 1809, ch. 76, sec. 4.

19. Each justice of the peace shall keep a docket and therein record
and make regular entries of his proceedings in all cases in which he shall
act in virtue of his office; and he shall furnish the plaintiff and defendant,
respectively, with a copy of any judgment given by him whenever required.
It is the policy of the law that original papers should be kept together, and with
the dockets, constitute archives. State v. Chaney, 93 Md. 74.

An. Code, 1924, sec. 18. 1912, sec. 16. 1904, sec. 14. 1888, sec. 13. 1809, ch. 76, sec. 5.

20. If any justice shall omit to keep a docket so that by such neglect
or omission the plaintiff (having obtained a judgment before such justice)
shall lose his debt, the justice shall satisfy to the said plaintiff the debt,
interest and costs so lost.

An. Code, 1924, sec. 19. 1912, sec. 17. 1904, sec. 15. 1888, sec. 14. 1845, ch. 222, sec. 2.

21. Each justice shall also keep a full alphabet or index to his docket
under a penalty of two dollars to be recovered on presentment by the grand
jury, one-half to the informer and the other half to the use of the county.
For abolition of informer's fees, see art. 38, sec. 3.