1084 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 630
CHAPTER 630.
(House Bill 449)

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact, with amendments, Section 388
of Article 27 of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1939 Edi-
tion), title "Crimes and Punishments", sub-title "Larceny",
extending jurisdiction to justices of the peace in Baltimore
City to try cases of theft of goods under the value of twenty-
five dollars; and providing a saving clause for violations
occurring prior to the effective date of this Act.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Mary-
land, That Section 388 of Article 27 of the Annotated Code
of Public General Laws of Maryland (1939 Edition), title
"Crimes and Punishments", sub-title "Larceny", be and the
same is hereby repealed and re-enacted, with amendments, to
read as follows:

388. If any person shall steal, take or carry away personal
goods of another under the value of twenty-five dollars and
being thereof convicted he shall be deemed guilty of a misde-
meanor, and shall restore the goods and chattels so stolen or
pay the full value thereof to the owner thereof, and be fined
not more than fifty dollars or imprisoned for not more than
eighteen months in the House of Correction or jail, or both
fined and imprisoned; provided that all actions or prosecu-
tions hereunder shall be commenced within two years after the
commission of said offense.

All prosecutions for violations of the provisions of this sec-
tion may be either upon presentment and indictment in any
court having criminal jurisdiction in this State, or by trial
before any justice of the peace in and for the county or the
City of Baltimore, as the case may be, where the offense
occurs, and jurisdiction original and concurrent with the said
courts haying criminal jurisdiction is hereby given to the said
justices of the peace, and they shall have power to issue all
processes and do all acts which may be necessary for the
exercise of said jurisdiction; and may try and determine
all such cases and may pronounce judgment and impose
sentence therein to the same extent as the aforesaid courts
having criminal jurisdiction could do in such cases, if such
cases were tried before such court without a jury; provided,
however, that if any person when brought before any
such justice having jurisdiction of the case, shall, before the
trial for the alleged offense, pray a jury trial, or if the State's
Attorney for the county where the offense occurs shall, before
the trial of such alleged offense, pray a jury trial on behalf of
the State, it shall be the duty of such justice to commit such