200                         LAWS OF MARYLAND.                 [CH. 101

as may be prescribed by ordinance, after due notice in writ-
ing, and opportunity to be heard in his defence, under the rules
and regulations hereinafter set forth. That whenever charges
are preferred in writing under oath, and filed with the Mayor,
by any person, against such officer, for any or all of the offenses
named or provided for as above, it shall be his duty to have
the accused duly served with a copy of such charges, and shall
set a day to inquire into the truth of such charges, and shall
notify the accused and the members of said Council, and the
witnesses for and against the accused, to be present, and the
said Mayor and Council shall constitute a court to try and
determine said case, and are hereby invested with exclusive
jurisdiction to hear and determine said charges, and may con-
tinue the investigation from day to day, upon proper showing,
to enable the accused or prosecutor to get material evidence
before said Council. The accused shall have the right to be
heard in person or by counsel, and the said Mayor and Council
shall likewise be represented by counsel, if they desire it. Upon
the conclusion of the investigation and argument of the cause
a vote shall be taken on each charge and specification, and if a
majority of all the members of the said Mayor and Council
vote to sustain either of the charges against the accused, said
Mayor and Council shall enter, or cause to be entered, its
judgment, in which shall be recorded the vote of each member
of the Council upon the several charges and specifications, and
an order shall be entered removing the accused from his office,
and declaring the same vacant, but if the vote is otherwise,
the accused shall be declared "not guilty" and judgment en-
tered accordingly.

ASSESSMENT AND TAXATION.

122D. The Mayor and Council of Chestertown in the
month of July shall have the power to levy annually a tax on
the assessable property of said town for the general purposes
of said corporation not exceeding in any one year seventy-five
cents ($. 75) on each one hundred dollars ($100. 00) worth of
said assessable property, which shall be a lien on all of said
property, real, personal and mixed, within said town until
paid, and said taxes shall be due and payable on or before
the first day of September, and interest shall be chargeable
on such taxes, if not paid on or before December 31st, from
date when due.