1424 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 680

The term "delinquent child" shall be construed, as meaning
any male or female child living in Harford County under the
ages above specified, and who, while under age, may violate
any criminal law of the State, or is incorrigible, or knowingly
associates with thieves, vicious and depraved persons, or is
growing up in idleness or crime, or knowingly frequents any
gambling places, or patronizes liquor or beer saloons unaccom-
panied by a parent or guardian, or is guilty of indecent, im-
moral and lascivious conduct.

161. All such children described in the aforegoing Section,
and residing in Harford County, are declared to be wards of
the State, and the Judges of the Courts of the Third Judicial
Circuit of Maryland, sitting as a Court of Equity, shall have
full power to deal with such children when brought before such
court and full jurisdiction over the disposition of such child
or children. And the said Court shall have the power to desig-
nate one of its Judges to hear, determine and dispose of all
such cases, and to adopt such rules and regulations for the trial
and disposition of such cases as to said Court, may seem reason-
able and proper.

162. Any person of respectable standing in his or her com-
munity, and being a resident of said County, or the agent of
any society incorporated under the laws of this State for the
care and protection of children, may file with the Clerk of the
Circuit Court for Harford County on the equity side thereof,
a petition in writing, setting forth that a certain child or chil-
dren, naming the same, if the name or names be known, and
also naming the parent or parents of such child, if there be
parent or parents, or the name of the custodian of such child
or children, if there be such custodian, and the place or places
of residence of such child or children, their parents or other
custodian, is or are delinquent, dependent or neglected, as de
fined in Section 160 of this Act, and that it is for the interests
of such child or children, and the State of Maryland, that it or
they be taken from its or their parent or parents, guardian or
custodian, and placed under the jurisdiction of the Equity
Court for Harford County, together with such other pertinent
facts, if any, as the petitioner may think proper to state.
The Clerk of the Circuit Court for Harford County shall file
and preserve such petition and all papers relating to such peti-
tion, and docket such case, wherein the petitioner shall be
named as plaintiff, and the child or children, its or their par-
ent or parents, guardian, or custodian, when named, shall be
made defendants in such case. It shall be the duty of the said