1456 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 818

appears to be a minor sixteen years of age or
older without proper care or guardianship, and who is
not an inmate of a State institution, or any institu-
tion incorporated under the laws of the State of Maryland
for the care and correction of children, or of any reform
school or industrial school for juvenile offenders, and hav-
ing knowledge of the person or persons responsible for or
contributing to the condition of said child, may file with
the Clerk of the Circuit Court for the county, or of the
Criminal Court of Baltimore City, or with the Magistrate
for Juvenile Causes in any county, a petition in writing,
setting forth the facts verified by affidavit; or the judge,
of the Circuit Court for the county in which the child resides
or of the Criminal Court of Baltimore City, or the Magis-
trate for Juvenile Causes for any of the respective counties
on his personal knowledge, or on information given him
may direct such petition to be filed by a duly appointed pro-
bation officer, or by the State's Attorney for the county.
The petition shall set forth the name and residence of the
child, and of its parents or guardians, or other persons
having the custody, control or supervision of such child,
and of the person or persons responsible for or contribut-
ing to the condition of such child; and that the child is a
minor without proper care or guardianship, and it shall
be sufficient that the affidavit to the facts set forth in the
petition is on information and belief.

Upon the filing of the petition a summons shall issue
requiring all persons named in the petition to appear at a
place and time stated in the summons which time shall not
be less than twenty-four hours after service. Such sum-
mons may be served by the sheriff or constable, or police
officer, or a probation officer. If the person summoned
shall fail to appear, the court may issue an attachment for
such person's personal attendance in court at the time to be
stated therein, and upon the execution of the attachment
such person may give bond for his appearance at the time
stated therein in such sum as the court may direct. If it
shall be made to appear by affidavit, that there are good
reasons to believe, that any person proceeded against under
this sub-title will leave the jurisdiction of the court before
the day set for the trial of the proceedings herein, the
court may cause a warrant to issue directed to the sheriff
or an officer authorized by law to serve a warrant com-
manding such officer to take the person named therein,
and bring him forthwith before the court, or the judge
thereof, and the court or judge thereof, may thereupon re-
quire such person to give bond for his appearance at the
time named for trial, or may make such interlocutory or-
ders as are proper in the premises.