ALBERT C. RITCHIE, GOVERNOR. 523

offense, crime, or misdemeanor, not punishable by confinement
in the penitentiary, or involving a felonious intent, which may
be committed within the confines of Allegany County, which
said jurisdiction shall be exercised as concurrent with the
Circuit Court for Allegany County; and they shall have juris-
diction to hear, try and determine all prosecutions and proceed-
ings for the recovery of any penalty for doing or omitting to do
any act within Allegany County, the doing of which or omis-
sion to do which, is made punishable under the laws of this
State, by fine or imprisonment in jail or the House of Correc-
tion or any House of Detention; they shall have power to issue
process and do all other reasonable acts consistent with exist-
ing law, necessary for the exercise of said jurisdiction; and
they may pronounce judgment and sentence in all cases coming
before them within their jurisdiction in the same manner and
to the same extent as the 'Circuit Court might do; provided,
however, that the accused when brought before said Justices
shall have a. right to demand a jury trial, or the State's Attor-
ney for Allegany County may demand a jury trial, or after
judgment an appeal may be taken by the accused or by the
State; in which case the accused shall be admitted to bail and
recognizance taken and the cause transmitted to the Circuit
Court as a criminal appeal or recognizance filed as is now pro-
vided by law. Said Justices shall have jurisdiction to hold
such hearing or hearings as may be demanded in criminal
causes generally, or in which they have no jurisdiction to finally
determine, and may hold the accused for the Grand Jury agree-
ably to existing law; in case of homicide they may hold the
accused for the action of the County Coroner and in the ab-
sence of the County Coroner, they may perform his duties.

CIVIL JURISDICTION.

Section 179-D. Said Justices of the Peace shall have civil
jurisdiction in all cases for the collection of debts, enforcement
of contracts and for redress for wrongs where the debt or the
damage claimed shall not exceed the sum of Three Hundred
Dollars, to all suits on bonds where the penalty does not exceed
Three Hundred Dollars; to all actions of replevin where the
value of the thing1 in controversy, after being duly appraised,
shall not exceed the sum of Three Hundred Dollars; to all
cases of attachment against resident, non-resident or abscond-
ing debtors, and to all cases of attachment mentioned in the
Code of Public General Laws of Maryland, where the sum
claimed does not exceed the sum of Three Hundred Dollars;