EDWIN WARFIELD, ESQ., GOVERNOR.

943

1904, title "Justice of the Peace," sub-title "Criminal
Jurisdiction," and re-enact the same with amendments.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Mary-
land, That Section 12 of Article 52 of the Code of Public

CHAP. 475

General Laws of 1904, title "Justice of the Peace," sub-title
"Criminal Jurisdiction," be and the same is hereby repealed
and re-enacted with amendments, so as to read as follows :

Section 12. The several justices of the peace of the State
of Maryland, (except in the city of Baltimore, and in Talbot,

Repeal and
re-enact.

Harford, Montgomery and Frederick counties), are hereby
invested with, and shall have hereafter jurisdiction to hear, try
and determine all cases involving the charge of any offense,
crime or misdemeanor, not punishable by confinement in the
penitentiary or involving a felonious intent, which may be
committed within their respective counties; and shall have
jurisdiction to hear, try and determine all prosecutions or
proceedings for the recovery of any penalty for doing or
omitting to do any act within their respective counties, the
doing of which or the omission to do which, is made pun-
ishable under the laws of this State by any pecuniary fine
or penalty, or by imprisonment in jail or in the Maryland
House of Correction, all of which acts or omissions are
hereby declared to be criminal offences; and the said justice
shall have power to issue all process, and to do all acts
which may be necessary for the exercise of their said juris-
diction, and may pronounce judgment and sentence in all
such cases coming before them, in the same manner, and to
the same extent as the circuit courts for said counties could,
if such cases had been tried before said courts; provided,

Authority
given
Justices of
the peace.

however, that the accused, when brought before any such
justice, on being informed by him of his right to trial by^:
jury, freely elects to be tried before such justice, and pro-
vided, further, that a jury trial be not prayed in such case on
the part of the State by the State's Attorney. If after a
trial before the justice either party shall feel aggrieved b}*-
his judgment there shall be a right of appeal within ten
days to the circuit court for the county in which the
alleged offense is charged to have been committed, and
in all cases where a jury trial is prayed by the State,
or the accused elects to be tried by jury, or appeals from
the judgment of the justice, the justice shall take from

Proviso.