"'988                         LAWS OF MARYLAND.                  [CH. 398

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of
Maryland, That the Board of Regents of the University of
Maryland be and they are hereby authorized and empowered
to acquire such land in Baltimore City for the University of
Maryland as may be necessary for the erection of a hospital
provided for the University of Maryland by the General Con-
struction Loan of 1931.

SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That to such extent as
may be necessary for carrying out the purpose of this Act the
Board of Regents of the University of Maryland shall have the
right and power to purchase or to condemn land, earth, gravel,
stone, timber or materials or any improvements in the name
of the State under Article 33A of the Code of Public General
Laws.

SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That this Act shall take
effect, on June 1st, 1931.

Approved April 17, 1931.

CHAPTER 398.

AN ACT to add a new section to Article 35 of the Annotated
Code of Maryland (1924 Edition), title "Evidence, " sub-
title "Conspiracy of Witnesses, " said new section to be
known as Section 4A and to follow immediately after Sec-
tion 4 of said Article, to abolish the presumption of law,
that any offense, other than treason or murder, committed
by the wife in the presence of her husband is committed
under his coercion; and making it legal for a wife to show,
as a fact, on a charge against her other than treason or mur-
der, that the offense was committed in the husband's presence
and under his coercion.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of
Maryland, That a new section be and the same is hereby added
to Article 35 of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1924 edi-
tion), title "Evidence, " sub-title "Competency of Witnesses, "
said new section to- be known as Section 4A, to follow imme-
diately after Section 4 of said Article, and to read as follows: