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LAWS OF MARYLAND.

five of the Code of Public General Laws, to secure and com-
pel the attendance and testimony of said witnesses before the
State's Attorney; and all witnesses so summoned and appear-
ing and taking the oath provided in the fifth section of this
act, shall receive the same compensation allowed to witnesses
summoned and attending before the grand inquest for said
county.

To investi-
gate cases.

SEC. 3. And be it enacted, That the State's Attorney shall
investigate with all reasonable dispatch and thoroughness all
cases which may be referred to him under this act, and in all
cases which in his judgment should not proceed to trial, he

Dismissal of
case.

shall promptly tile in said court an order dismissing such case
referred to him as aforesaid, with a statement in writing of
his reasons therefor, with all papers and documents relating to
said case in his possession; and such dismissal of a case so
referred to him shall be a final and conclusive termination of
the same; but the court may for sufficient reasons, shown in a
reasonable time, strike out the said order of dismissal of a
case made by the State's attorney, and refer said case to the
grand jury.

Pleading and
practice.

SEC. 4. And be it enacted, That the same pleading and
practice and all provisions of law now applicable to indict-
ments, and governing of trial of issues thereon, shall be appli-
cable so far as practicable to information filed under this act
by the State's attorney.

Oath of
witnesses.

SEC. 5. And be it enacted, That the clerk of said court
shall administer to every witness, prior to his or her appearing
before the State's attorney, the following oath, viz: "The
evidence which you shall give before the State's attorney for
Anne Arundel county in the matter depending before him,
shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth,
so help you God." And all wilful and corrupt false swearing
by any witness, in any material point of inquiry before said
State's attorney, in any case referred to him under this act,
shall be deemed perjury. And any person convicted of such
wilful and corrupt false swearing shall suffer the penalty now
provided by law to be imposed upon persons convicted of the
crimes of perjury.

SEC. 6. And be it enacted, That in all criminal cases brought
before a justice of the peace having jurisdiction to try the