688

LAWS OF MARYLAND.

SEC 2. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of

Maryland, That the several justices of the peace of

Montgomery, Prince George's, Harford, Calvert, Anne

Arundel, Wicomico, Caroline, Talbot, St. Mary's, Gar-

rett, Howard, Somerset, Washington, Dorchester,

Kent, Charles and Allegany counties, shall have, in

addition to the jurisdiction which they now possess,

and which may be conferred upon them by or under

the laws of this state, jurisdiction concurrent with

Jurisdiction of

that exercised by the circuit courts for said counties in

justices.

all cases of assault without any felonious intent, 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 omission 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 commissions are hereby

declared to be criminal offenses, and the said justices

Issue process.

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 pro-

nounce judgment sentence therein in the same manner

and to the same extent as the circuit court for said

counties could in such cases as if such cases were tried

Proviso

before them without the intervention of a jury; pro-

vided, however, that if any person, when brought be-

fore any such justice having jurisdiction of the case,

shall before trial for the alleged offense pray a jury

trial, or if the state's attorney for said county shall

before the trial of such alleged offense 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

Duty of justice

in the circuit court for the county in which the offense

was committed at its then session, if it be then in ses-

sion, or at its next session, if it be not then in session,

and to return said commitment or recognizance with

the names and residence of the witnesses for the pros-

ecution endorsed thereon forthwith to the clerk of the