ART. 27] HOUSE OF REFORMATION. 943

first, colored minors may be committed by a justice of the
peace for any of the counties or the city of Baltimore, on
complaint and due proof made to him by the parent, guardian
or next friend of such minor, that, by reason of incorrigible or
vicious conduct such minor has rendered his or her control
beyond the power of such parent, guardian or next friend and
made it manifestly requisite that, from regard to the morals
and future welfare of such minor, and the peace and order of
society he or she should be placed under the guardianship of
the house of reformation; second, colored minors may be
committed by the authority aforesaid, when complaint and due
proof have been made that such minor is a proper subject for
the guardianship of the house of reformation in consequence
of vagrancy or of incorrigible or vicious conduct, and that,
from the moral depravity or otherwise of the parent, guardian
or next friend in whose custody such minor may be, such
parent, guardian or next friend is unable or unwilling to
exercise the proper care and discipline over such incorrigible
or vicious minor; third, such children as their parents, guar-
dians or friends may desire to place therein for temporary
restraint and discipline, ond whose parents, guardians or
friends shall agree and contract with the managers for their
support and maintenance; and fourth, minors committed by
the several courts in this State, as provided in sections 502
and 507.

1888, art. 27, sec 348. 1870, ch. 392, sec. 20.

506. It shall be the duty of the justice of the peace when
committing a vagrant or incorrigible or vicious minor, under
the preceding section, in addition to the commitment, to annex
the names and residences of the different witnesses examined
before him and the substance of the testimony given by them,
respectively, on which the adjudication was founded; and the
same duty shall be performed by the clerk of any court, the
judge whereof shall make such commitment.

Ibid sec 349. 1870, ch. 392, sec. 21. 1882, ch. 382.

507. Whenever any colored minor under the age of sixteen
years shall be convicted before any court or justice of the
peace of any felony or other offense against any law or laws
of this State, the judge of said court or said justice, in his
discretion, and with reference to the character of said institu-
tion as a place of reform and not of punishment, may order
said minor so convicted to be removed to and confined in the