HERBERT R. O'CONOR, GOVERNOR. 1851

547N. Any person may inform the court that a child is
within the purview of this Act, and if the court is so informed,
the Magistrate shall make or order to be made a preliminary
inquiry to determine whether the interests of the public or of
the child require that further action be taken. Thereupon the
court may make such informal adjustment as is practicable
without a petition, or may authorize a petition to be filed by
any person, or, any person may file with the Magistrate or
with the Director of Social Work of the Court a petition in
writing and under oath, setting forth that a certain child or
children, naming same, if the names be known, and also nam-
ing the parent or parents of said child or children, if there be
parent or parents known to the petitioner, or the name of the
custodian of said child or children if there be such custodian
known to the petitioner, and the. place or places of residence of
such child or children, their parents or other custodian, if
known to the petitioner, is or are delinquent, dependent or
neglected and that it is for the best interest of said child or
children and the State of Maryland that it or they be taken
from its or their parent or parents, guardian or custodian or
place of residence and placed under the jurisdiction of the
Magistrate for juvenile causes, together with such other perti-
nent facts as the petitioner may think proper to state. The
Magistrate shall file and preserve such petitions and all papers
relating to the petition and docket the case, wherein the
petitioner shall be named the plaintiff and the child or chil-
dren its or their parent or parents, guardian or custodian
when named shall be made defendants in such case.

The Magistrate, if a formal hearing is to be had, shall order
the Director of Social Work to issue a writ or writs of sum-
mons for all parties named in the proceedings as defendants,
and for all witnesses in the case, in which shall be stated the
purpose for which he or they have been summoned, and
ordering the said parties or witnesses to appear before said
Magistrate at the hour and upon the day named therein, and
the Magistrate may, in his discretion, if it appears that the
child is in such condition or surroundings that his welfare
requires that his custody be immediately assumed by the court,
order, by endorsement upon the summons, that the officer
serving the same shall at once take the child into custody.
Service of writs and process shall be by any officer who by law
is authorized to serve and return such writs and process, as
for criminal and civil proceedings in other cases provided.

In those causes, for wilful act or omission of persons con-
tributing to any condition bringing a child within the juris-
diction of the court, any person may file with the Magistrate
for Juvenile Causes for Montgomery County, a petition in
writing, setting forth the name and residence of any parent,