1140                      LAWS OF MARYLAND.                  [CH. 448

same manner as provided for in the trial of other persons in-
dicted for desertion or non-support, and the said Information
shall take the place of Presentment and Indictment by the
Grand Jury.

Nothing in the above section shall prevent the State's Attor-
ney from submitting any such case to the Grand Jury for such
action as it may deem proper, instead of proceeding by way of
Information.

87C. The State's Attorney is hereby empowered for the
purpose of facilitating the handling of such cases, to issue sub-
poenas and summonses requiring the personal attendance of any
and all persons other than the accused in connection with the
said examination or inquiry, to be and appear before the said
State's Attorney, Deputy State's Attorney or any Assistant
State's Attorney, as well as to produce any and all docu-
mentary matter in connection with the said examination or in-
quiry. And the State's Attorney, Deputy State's Attorney or
any Assistant State's Attorney, may in addition thereto, and
the power and authority is hereby granted, administer oaths and
affirmations, examine witnesses and receive evidence. In case
of disobedience to a subpoenas or summons, or the contumacy of
a witness appearing before the State's Attorney, Deputy
State's Attorney or any Assistant State's Attorney, the State's
Attorney may invoke the aid of the Criminal Court of Balti-
more. Such Court may thereupon issue an order requiring the
person subpoenaed to obey the subpoena and to give evidence
and to produce any and all documentary matter deemed neces-
sary by said Court touching upon the said matter under investi-
gation or inquiry. In case of a failure or refusal of any person,
firm or corporation to obey the Order of the Court after the re-
port by the State's Attorney to the Court and the issuance of the
Order by the Court, the service of same upon the witness, such
person, firm or corporation so disobeying or refusing shall be
deemed in contempt of Court and punishable as such, subject to
the right of appeal as now provided or hereafter regulated.

87D. The defendant or person accused or about to be ac-
cused by Information to be filed by the State's Attorney shall
be notified in writing by the State's Attorney of the fact that an
investigation is being or is to be conducted and that a hearing
is to be had at a time and place to be stated in such written
notification and that he has the right to appear and produce such '