54

LAWS OF MARYLAND.

and recorded in the office of the register of wills for said county

and have the same effect as if the same was executed by a person

of full age.

SEC. 2. And be it enacted, That the said Paul Anderson shall

Binding.

be answerable for all liabilities, debts and contracts made and

entered into by him, and may sue and be sued as if he were of

legal age; that all deeds and other instruments of writing made

and executed by him shall be as good and binding as if he were

of legal age of twenty-one years.

Effective.

SEC. 3. And be it enacted, That this act shall take effect from

the date of its passage.

Approved February 28, 1890.

CHAPTEE 70.

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact with amendments section twenty

of article forty-two, of the Code of Public General Laws, title

"Habeas Corpus," sub-title "Procedure in relation to minors."

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,

That section twenty of article forty-two, of the Code of Public

Repeal.

General Laws, title "Habeas Corpus," sub-title "Procedure in

relation to minors," be and the same is hereby repealed and re-

enacted so as to read as follows :

20. Whenever a minor is brought before a court or judge upon

habeas corpus in private custody, the court or judge, in the deter-

mination of the case, shall be guided and controlled by a parental

consideration of what is demanded by the best interests of such

minor, and the custody shall be determined without regard to

technicalities of procedure and without reference to any alleged

Custody

technical claim or right of custody; the minor, when brought up

by habeas corpus, shall be deemed to be in the custody of and sub-

ject to the order of the court or judge issuing the writ or hearing

the case, and the court or judge may adjourn the examination

from time to time, and shall not allow the proceedings to be con-

trolled by the parties thereto, or any of them, and it shall not lie

within the power of the parties, or any of them, to dismiss the

case or settle it; a minor, in such proceeding may be removed

from the custody of his parent, appointed guardian, or other legal

custodian; he may be committed to the care of any person, body

corporate or institution, upon such terms and for such period as

the court or judge may deem beneficial; if it be made to appear

that such course is demanded by the temporal or moral welfare

of the minor, it shall be the duty of the court or judge, to com-

mit him to the care or custody of any charitable, reformatory or