ALBERT C. RITCHIE, GOVERNOR.                  989

4A. Any presumption of the law that an offense committed
by a wife in the presence of her husband is committed under
the coercion of the husband is hereby abolished, but on a charge
against a wife, for any offense other than treason or murder it
shall be a good defense for her to prove that the offense was com-
mitted in the presence of, and under the coercion of, the hus-
band.

SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That this Act shall take
effect June 1, 1931.

Approved April 17^ 1931.

CHAPTER 399.

AN ACT to declare the sanction and consent of the General
Assembly of Maryland to sundry gifts, bequests and devises
contained in the last wills and testaments of certain per-
sons, deceased, and also to certain gifts, grants, sales, leases
and deeds made by various persons to and for the use and
benefit of sundry ministerial persons, religious corporations,
vestries, educational and charitable institutions, churches,
denominations or sects hereinafter named.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of
Maryland^ That the sanction and consent of said General As-
sembly of Maryland be and the same is hereby declared, given
and granted to the following gifts, bequests, devises, grants,
sales, leases, conveyances and deeds, to and from certain per-
sons and bodies corporate to and for the use of certain minis-
terial persons, religious and educational corporations, orders,
denominations and sects, and to certain charitable institutions
hereinafter named as herein set forth:

1. To the following bequests contained in the will of Bessie
I). Fernandis, late of Harford County, deceased, which will is
dated July 15th, 1917, and is recorded among the will records
of Harford County, in Liber C. S. W. No. 17, folio 483.

(a) To St. Mary's Church, near Emmorton, Harford Coun-
ty, Maryland, to be invested and the interest thereon to be
used towards paying the salary of the rector, $1, 000. 00.