798 CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS. [ART. 27

or both; and in the event that the violation shall be by a cor-
poration, the penalty shall be inflicted upon the president or
other chief officer thereof.

Desertion of Wife or Child.

1896, ch. 73, sec. 47 A. 1904, ch. 44.

69. Any person who shall without just cause desert or wil-
fully neglect to provide for the support and maintenance of his
wife or minor child shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor,
and upon conviction in any court of the State having criminal
jurisdiction shall be punished by a fine not exceeding one
hundred dollars, or imprisonment in the Maryland house of
correction, for not more than one year, or both, in the discre-
tion of the court. The fine may be directed by the court to
be paid in whole or in part to the wife; provided, that before
the trial with the consent of the defendant, or after conviction,
instead of imposing the punishment hereinbefore provided, or
in addition thereto, the court in its discretion, having regard
to the circumstances and financial ability of the defendant,
shall have the power to pass an order which shall be subject
to change by it from time to time, as the circumstances may
require, directing the defendant to pay a certain sum weekly
for the space of one year to the wife, and to release the
defendant from custody on probation for the space of one year
upon his entering into a recognizance in such sum as the court
shall direct, with or without sureties. The condition of the
recognizance shall be such that if the defendant shall make his
personal appearance at the court whenever ordered 'so to do
within the year, and shall further comply with the terms of the
order, or of any subsequent modification thereof, then the
recognizance shall be void, otherwise of full force and effect.
If the court be satisfied by information and due proof under
oath, at any time during the year, that the defendant has
violated the terms of such order, it may forthwith proceed to
the trial of the defendant under the original indictment, or
sentence him under the original conviction, as the case may be.
In the case of forfeiture of a recognizance and enforcement
thereof by execution, the sum recovered may, in the discretion
of the court, be paid in whole or in part to the wife.

1904, ch. 44, sec. 47 B.

70. If the defendant shall be arrested and brought before
a justice of the peace, upon the charge of violating section 69