594 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 329

exceeds Fifty Dollars and does not exceed Three Hundred Dol-
lars.

PRACTICE:

54-F. Whenever a civil cause shall be docketed before said
Judge of the Peoples Court, a summons shall forthwith issue to
the defendant or defendants, as the case may be, returnable on a
day named therein, not less than six nor more than ten days
from the time of the filing of the suit; and if the defendant or
defendants are fully summoned and fail to appear on the re-
turn day named therein, the cause shall be continued not less
than three nor more than five days from the return day; and
if the defendant or defendants, as the case may be, fail to ap-
pear on the day to which said cause is continued, the case shall
then be tried exparte and the judgment rendered accordingly.

The practice, procedure and rules for the trial and conduct
of all causes before said Judge of The Peoples Court shall be
such as have been found proper by usage and custom where the
same is found applicable, except that there shall be no special
pleading; the common counts or a like declaration, and the form
of pleas may be used; all causes of action shall begin upon the
filing of a brief copy of the claim or the instrument upon which
the suit is brought; when the party plaintiff is a non-resident
of the State of Maryland, the claim must be accompanied by
an affidavit before a Notary Public or other person authorized
to administer oaths; costs of all causes shall follow the judg-
ment, and on appeal, the Clerk of the Circuit Court shall tax
said costs when the appeal is finally determined; all appeals in
both Civil and Criminal causes must be taken within twenty
days from the date judgment is entered: and all costs must be
paid before the appeal papers are transmitted to the Circuit
Court, unless the party taking the appeal shall make oath that
they are unable by reason of poverty to pay the costs, in which
case the appeal shall be transmitted in the same manner as if
the costs had been paid; civil appeal bonds shall be filed in ac-
cordance with common practice or existing law; all judgments
rendered by said Judge of The Peoples Court may be recorded
in the office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court in the same man-
ner as Magistrate Judgments are now recorded; judgments by
confession may be entered before said Judge of The Peoples
Court in any sum not exceeding Three Hundred Dollars, and
may be recorded as Magistrate Judgments are now recorded;
rules for the security for costs against non-resident litigants
may be laid; and the payment of costs by certified check or a
deposit thereof shall be deemed a compliance; all papers relat-
ing to causes of action must be kept together, and the same shall
be considered the archives of the Court.