HERBERT R. O'CONOR, GOVERNOR. 1045

diction", increasing the civil jurisdiction of Trial Magis-
trates in Prince George's, Anne Arundel, Carroll and Har-
ford Counties, and revising the provisions to the civil juris-
diction of Trial Magistrates in certain counties.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Mary-
land, That Section 7 of Article 52 of the Annotated Code of
Maryland (1943 Supplement), title "Justices of the Peace",
sub-title "Civil Jurisdiction", be and it is hereby repealed and
re-enacted, with amendments, to read as follows:

7. The civil jurisdiction of Trial Magistrates extends to all
cases for the enforcement of contracts and to obtain redress
for wrongs where the debt or damages claimed shall not exceed
one hundred dollars, to all suits on bonds with penalty exceed-
ing one hundred dollars, where the sum due and claimed does
not exceed one hundred dollars; to actions of replevin where
the value of the thing in controversy does not exceed one hun-
dred dollars and which value shall be ascertained by appraisers
summoned and sworn by the sheriff or other officer to whom the
writ of replevin is directed, and to all cases of attachments
against non-residents or absconding debtors where the sum
claimed does not exceed one hundred dollars and also to all
cases of attachment in any of the cases mentioned in Section
36 of Article 9 where the sum claimed shall not exceed one
hundred dollars.

Trial Magistrates of Caroline, Charles, Dorchester, Fred-
erick, Garrett, Kent, Queen Anne's, St. Mary's, Somerset, Tal-
bot, Washington and Worcester Counties shall have civil juris-
diction in all cases hereinbefore mentioned in this section,
instituted after June 1, 1941, and involving amounts not ex-
ceeding two hundred dollars.

Trial Magistrates of Allegany, Montgomery and Wicomico
Counties shall have civil jurisdiction in all cases hereinbefore
mentioned in this section, instituted after June 1, 1943, and
of Anne Arundel, Carroll and Harford Counties shall have
jurisdiction in such cases instituted after June 1, 1945, and
involving amounts not exceeding three hundred dollars.

Trial Magistrates of Prince George's County shall have civil
jurisdiction in all cases hereinbefore mentioned in this section,
instituted after June 1, 1945, and involving amounts not ex-
ceeding five hundred dollars.

Provided, that nothing herein contained shall be held or con-
strued to affect suits pending on June 1, 1945, nor judgments
then existing.

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

Approved April 27, 1945.