ART. 16] PLEADING, PRACTICE AND PROCESS. 439

knowledge of such person or persons, or corporation, by
service or otherwise.

1888, art. 16, sec. 182. 1860, art. 16, sec. 124. 1785, ch. 72. 1790, ch. 60. 1816,
ch. 154 1818, chs, 133, 193. 1828, ch. 184. 1831, ch 311. 1833, ch. 150.

195. No decree pro confesso shall be passed against an infant
or insane defendant under the preceding sections relating to
process; but such infant or insane defendant shall be proceeded
against according to the provisions of this article relating
specially to infants and persons non compotes mentis.

Ibid. sec. 183. 1886, ch. 334.

196. If it appear to the court, either from the pleadings or
otherwise, that there is a question of law in any case, which it
would be convenient to have decided before any evidence is
given, or any question or issue of fact is tried, the court may
make an order accordingly, and may direct such question of
law to be raised for the opinion of the court, either by special
case or in such other manner as the court may deem expedient;
and all such proceedings as the decisions of such questions of
law may render unnecessary may therefore be stayed.

Ridgely v. Cross, 83 Md. 168.

Ibid. sec. 184. Rule 47.

197. Any person interested, or claiming to be interested, in
any question cognizable by a court of equity, as to the con-
struction of any statute, deed, will, or other instrument of
writing, or as to any other matter falling within the original
jurisdiction of such court, or made subject to the jurisdiction
thereof by statute, may state and raise such question before
the court in the form of a special case stated, instead of formal
pleading. Every such special case stated shall be entitled as a
cause between some one or more of the parties interested, or
claiming to be interested, as plaintiff or plaintiffs, and the
others of them as defendants; and such special case shall be
regularly docketed as a cause pending in said court, and shall
be in all respects, and for all purposes, treated and regarded as
a pending cause, as if regularly instituted by formal pleading.

Rogers v. Sisters of Charity, 97 Md. 551.

Ibid. sec. 185. Rule 48.

198. Such special case shall concisely state such facts and
documents as may be necessary to enable the court to decide