ART. 16.] CHANCERY—INEBRIATES—INFANTS. 147

its discretion, on such preliminary examination or inquiry as it
may think proper to make ex parte, to issue a warrant to 'the
sheriff of the county or city, respectively, to arrest and bring the
person so charged before such court; and it shall be the duty of
the sheriff to obey such warrant, and such court shall cause a
jury of good and lawful men to be summoned by the said sheriff,
to be empanelled forthwith, and shall charge said jury under oath
to inquire, in the presence of such person, whether he or she is
an habitual drunkard, incapable of taking care of himself or her-
self; and the proceedings in such case shall be like those now
authorized by law in cases of persons alleged to be lunatic or
insane; and the mies of law and proceedings now applicable to
the property of lunatics shall apply to cases of persons declared

to be habitual drunkards under the provisions of this section,

except when herein otherwise directed; and any person who may
be alleged to be an habitual drunkard, may dispense with the
legal proceedings to establish the earne, and may, with the appro-
bation of the court wherein said petition may be filed, appoint his
or her own committee, and may voluntarily enter any institution
selected by the court, for a limited time; and the board of trus-
tees or managers of such institution may retain such person the
length of time he or she may have agreed therein to remain; and
if the person against whom the petition may be filed shall be
found by the jury to be an habitual drunkard, incapable of
taking care of himself or herself, it shall be the duty of the court
to appoint a committee of such person, and such committee shall,

with the written assent and approbation of the- court, have the
power of confining such person in any suitable institution for
such length of time as the court may, in writing, approve; but
said committee, with the written assent and approbation of the

court, may at any time release from confinement said habitual
drunkard, and the period of confinement of said habitual drunk-
ard may, by the said committee, with the written assent and
approbation of the court, be from time to time extended for such
periods as may be necessary for his or her complete reformation.

Infants.

P. G. L , (1860,) art. 16, sec. 36. 1816, ch. 154, sec 1. 1818, ch. 193, sec. 7.
1819, ch 144, sec 2 1835, ch. 380, sec. 9.

48. Where an infant is entitled to any real or personal prop-
erty in this State, of any kind, or entitled to a reversion, vested