PHILLIPS LEE GOLDSBOROUGH, GOVERNOR. 551

greater than the taxes in arrears upon said property and the
interest and expenses of sale and costs and fees, and the same
shall be reported as hereinbefore provided, as sold to the Town
of Gaithersburg, which said Town of Gaithersburg shall be
treated and considered the same as any other purchaser. If
any person claiming title under a tax deed made as hereinbefore
provided, shall be defeated in any suit or proceedings by
or against him for the recovery of the land purporting to be
conveyed by such tax deed, the successful claimant shall be
adjudged to pay him the full amount paid by the purchaser, at
the tax sale, with interest, at the rate of fifteen (15) per
centum per annum on the total amount thus paid, also the
amount of all taxes, State, County or Municipal, general or
special, paid by the purchaser, his heirs or assigns after the
date of the certificate of purchase, and interest thereon, at six
(6) per centum per annum; this judgment shall be a lien on
the land in controversy. The Treasurer shall immediately
after the redemption of any property, certify the said redemp-
tion to the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Montgomery County,
and the said Clerk shall record the same according to the cus-
toms now pursued in said office.

19. The failure of the Council or any person designated by
them, or of any official herein charged with any duties in rela-
tion to the assessment, levy or collection of taxes to perform the
acts required of them at, or within the time specified, shall not
affect the validity of such act, or any proceedings based thereon,
if done within a reasonable time thereafter.

20. The Bailiff shall attend the meetings of the Council and
perform such, duties as it shall direct; he shall preserve the
peace, prevent disorderly or irregular meetings of persons, and
he shall enforce all ordinances that may be enacted by the Coun-
cil ; he shall serve all notices and process required by this Char-
ter except those otherwise designated herein or any ordinance
passed by virtue hereof, and his return duly endorsed thereon
shall be evidence of the facts therein stated.

21. The Mayor shall have all the powers of a Justice of the
Peace in criminal cases, where the Town of Gaithersburg is a
party; he shall have power to administer oaths of office to mem-
bers of Council and appointed or elected officers of the town;
he shall receive the same fees as Justices of the Peace are allowed
for similar service; and an appeal from his judgment may be
taken to the Circuit Court of Montgomery County, which Court