ART. 22.] JUSTICES OF THE PEACE AND CONSTABLES. 1997

and in all cases of assault and battery, and in all cases of petit
larceny, when the value of the property stolen does not exceed the
sum of five dollars, and in all misdemeanors not punishable by
confinement in the penitentiary, which may be committed within
their respective jurisdictions; and shall have jurisdiction in all
prosecutions or proceedings for the recovery of any penalty for-
doing or omitting to do any act, the doing of which, or the omis-
sion to do which, is made punishable under the laws of this State,
within their said jurisdiction, by any pecuniary fine or penalty or
by imprisonment in jail or in the Maryland house of correction;
all of which acts or omissions are hereby declared to be crimi-
nal offences; and the said justices shall have power to issue all
process and to do all acts which may be necessary to the exercise
of their said jurisdiction, and may try and determine all cases
whereof they may have jurisdiction, and may pronounce judgment
and sentence therein in the same manner and to the same extent
as the circuit court for said counties could in such cases, if such
cases were tried before them without the intervention of a jury
provided, however, that if any person, when brought before any
such justice having jurisdiction of the case, shall, before trial for
the alleged offence, pray a jury trial, or if the State's attorney for
said county shall, before the trial of such alleged offence, pray a,
jury trial on the part of the State, it shall be the duty of any such,
justice to commit such alleged offender for trial in the circuit
court for the county in which the offence was committed at its
then session, if it be then in session, or at its next session, if it be
not then in session, and to return said commitment or recogni-
zance, with the names and residences of the witnesses for the prose-
cution endorsed thereon, forthwith to the clerk of the said court;
and the justice before whom the case is tried shall inform the
person charged, of his right to a jury trial.

1884, ch. 510.

271. Constables in the said counties shall be entitled to the fees
prescribed by law for the particular services rendered by them
under the preceding section; and the said justices shall be entitled
to charge for their respective services in said criminal cases the
following fees: For issuing each State writ, twenty-five cents ; for
summoning all the witnesses on both sides in any case, fifty cents;
for each trial, one dollar; for every commitment, twenty-five