204 LAWS OF MARYLAND [CH. 56

20. Any stay of any action, proceeding, attachment, or execution,
ordered by any court under the provisions of this sub-title may,
except as otherwise provided, be ordered for the period of being in
such category and three months thereafter or any part of such
period, and subject to such terms as may be just, whether as to pay-
ment in instalments of such amounts and at such times as the court
may fix or otherwise. When a person in civil defense service or a
person suffering injury or damage is a codefendant with others the
plaintiff may nevertheless by leave of court proceed against the others.

21. The period of being in such category shall not be included in
computing any period now or hereafter to be limited by any law for
the bringing of any action by or against a person in civil defense
service or a person suffering injury or damage or by or against his
heirs, executors, administrators, or assigns, whether such cause of
action shall have accrued prior to or during the period of being in
such category.

Rent, Instalment Contracts, Mortgages

22. (a) No eviction or distress shall be made during the period of
being a person in civil defense service or a person suffering injury or
damage in respect of any premises for which the agreed rent does
not exceed $150 per month, occupied chiefly for dwelling purposes by
the wife, children, or other dependents of a person in civil defense
service or a person suffering injury or damage, except upon leave of
court granted upon application therefor or granted in an action or
proceeding affecting the right of possession.

(b) On any such application or in any such action the court may, in
its discretion, on its own motion, and shall, on application, unless in
the opinion of the court the ability of the tenant to pay the agreed
rent is not materially affected by reason of being a person in civil
defense service or a person suffering injury or damage, stay the pro-
ceedings for not longer than three months, as provided in this sub-
title, or it may make such other order as may be just.

(c) Any person who shall knowingly take part in any eviction or
distress otherwise than as provided in sub-section (a) hereof is guilty
of a misdemeanor, and shall be punishable by imprisonment not to
exceed one year or by fine not to exceed $1, 000, or both.

23. (a) No person who has received, or whose assignor has re-
ceived under a contract for the purchase of real or personal property,
or of lease or bailment with a view to purchase of such property, a
deposit or instalment of the purchase price from a person in civil
defense service or a person suffering injury or damage or from the
assignor of such a person, who after the date of payment of such
deposit or instalment, has become a person in civil defense service
or a person suffering injury or damage, shall exercise any right or
option under such contract to rescind or terminate the contract or
resume possession of the property for nonpayment of any instalment
falling due during the period of being in such category, except by
action in a court of competent jurisdiction. Provided, that nothing
contained in this section shall prevent the modification, termination,
or cancellation of any such contract, or prevent the repossession or
retention of property purchased or received under such contract, pur-
suant to a mutual agreement of the parties thereto, or their assignees,