HERBERT R. O'CONOR, GOVERNOR. 1035

credits or preference may be extended to the wives of such
veterans as have themselves been unable to qualify for merit
system appointment because of disability and to the unmar-
ried widows of deceased veterans. The rules and regulations
of any Civil Service Commission or Board may also provide for
exempting such war veterans under fifty-five years of age from
any age limitation or requirement.

SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That this Act shall take
effect June 1, 1945.

Approved April 27, 1945.

CHAPTER 826.
(House Bill 690)

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact, with amendments, Section 109
of Article 27 of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1939 Edi-
tion), title "Crimes and Punishments", sub-title "Destroying
Property Maliciously", authorizing Trial Magistrates to
try certain offenses.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Mary-
land, That Section 109 of Article 27 of the Annotated Code of
Maryland (1939 Edition), title "Crimes and Punishments",
sub-title "Destroying Property Maliciously", be and it is
hereby repealed and re-enacted, with amendments, to read as
follows:

109. Any person who shall wilfully or maliciously injure or
destroy any dwelling house, outhouse, stable, barn, warehouse,
storehouse, banking-house, factory, workshop, court house,
school house, church, mill house, or take and carry away any
growing tree, or cut down any tree, or destroy a vine, plant,
shrubbery, root, vegetable, fruit or grain, or any fencing, cord
wood or hoop poles shall, on conviction thereof before a Trial
Magistrate or the Circuit Court for the County or the Crim-
inal Court of Baltimore City, be adjudged guilty of a misde-
meanor, and be imprisoned for not more than one year, or
be fined not less than five dollars nor more than one hundred
dollars, or be both fined and imprisoned as aforesaid.

SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That this Act shall take
effect June 1, 1945.

Approved April 27, 1945.