PHILLIPS LEE GOLDSBOROUGH, GOVERNOR. 611

CHAPTER 385.

AN ACT to add an additional Section to Article 21 of the Code of
Public Local Laws of the State of Maryland, title "Talbot
County,'' sub-title '' Justices of the Peace and Constables,'' so
as to give additional criminal jurisdiction to the Justices of
the Peace of said County.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Mary-
land, That an additional Section be and the same is hereby
added to Article 21 of the Code of Public Local Laws of the
State of Maryland, title "Talbot County," sub-title "Justices
of the Peace and Constables," so as to give additional criminal
jurisdiction to the Justices of the Peace of said County, said
Section to be numbered 120 A.

SEC. 2. And be it enacted, That the several Justices of the
Peace of Talbot County, in addition to the jurisdiction on which
they now possess, or which may be conferred upon them by or
under the laws of this State, 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, (including all cases of assault and battery, as
well as all cases of assault without any felonious intent) which
may be committed within their respective jurisdictions; and shall
have jurisdiction to hear, try and determine all prosecutions or
proceedings for the recovery of any penalty for doing or omit-
ting to do any act within their respective jurisdictions, the doing
of which, or the omission to do which, is made punishable 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
offenses, and may pronounce judgment and sentence in all such
cases coming before them in the same manner and to the said
extent as the Circuit Court for said County could if such
case had been tried before said Court; provided, however, that
the accused, when brought before any such Justice having juris-
diction in the case,"upon being informed of his right to a jury
trial, waives said right, and elects to be tried before said Justice,
and provided further that a jury trial be not prayed in such
case on the part of the State by the State's Attorney, and it
shall be the duty of the Justice before whom the case is tried,
to inform the person accused with his right to a jury trial. And
in all cases where the accused elects to be tried by a jury, or