1797.

LAWS of M A R Y L A N D.

C H A P.

CXIX.

rendered on attachments iffued from the feveral courts againft perfons nonrefi-
dents of the then province, (now ftate,) and doubts exift as to the validity of
fuch rights, and fears are entertained that under the act of confiscation fome in-
tereft or eftate in lands fo circumftanced may be vefted in this ftate, to the pre-
judice of the poffeffors; therefore,

Right re-
leafed, &c,

II. Be it enacted, by the General Affembly of Maryland, That all right, title,
intereft, eftate and claim, which the ftate of Maryland hath, or may have, in
virtue of the act of confifcation, in and to any lands now held by any perfon or
perfons under any judgment of condemnation obtained on attachment profecuted
in any court of record before the fourth day of July, one thoufand feven hundred
and feventy-fix, fhall be and the fame is hereby releafed for ever to the refpective
perfons holding and claiming faid lands, or any of them, or any part of them,
tinder and in virtue of the title derived through faid judgments, or any of them;
provided neverthelefs, that nothing in this act fhall be conftrued to interfere with
or affect the rights of any citizen or citizens of this ftate acquired before the
paffage of this act to any land fo circumftanced; provided always, that nothing
herein contained fhall in any manner affect or defeat the right, if any, of the
informer of any of the faid lands as liable to confifcation, in cafe he fhall think
proper to profecute the fame, under any of the exifting laws of this ftate, within
two-years next after the paffing of this law.

Paffed Janua-
ry 21.

Money to be
levied, &c.

C H A P. CXX.
An ACT for rebuilding a bridge over Jones's Falls, in Baltimore
county.
Be it enacted, by the General Affembly of Maryland, That the levy court of
Baltimore county fhall levy and affefs on the affeffable property of faid
county, for rebuilding the bridge over Jones's Falls, in the city of Balti-
more, commonly called the Lower Bridge, a fum not exceeding two thoufand
dollars, with the ufual commiffion to the fheriff for collection, to be collected
with the county levy in the year feventeen hundred and ninety-eight; which fum
of money, when levied and collected, fhall be paid to the commiffioners herein
after named.

Commiffion-
ers appointed,
&c.

II. And be it enacted, That Richard Caton, John O'Donnell and Richard
Lawfon, fhall be and are hereby appointed commiffioners to contract for rebuild-
ing the faid bridge; and in cafe any vacancy fhall happen in the faid appoint-
ment of commiffioners before the faid bridge fhall be rebuilt, the remaining com-
miffioners fhall fupply fuch vacancy.

Paffed Janua-
ry 21.

Preamble.

C H A P. CXXI.
An ACT to feparate the criminal bufinefs arifing in the county
and city of Baltimore.

WHEREAS it would tend greatly to the cafe and convenience of the
inhabitants refiding within the county and. city of Baltimore, that
the criminal bufinefs in thofe refpective diftricts fhould be feparately
tranfacted and adminiftered; therefore,

Criminal of-
fences may be
tried in the
city of Balti-
more, &c.

II. Be it enacted by the General Affembly of Maryland, That from and after
the firft day of March next, the trial and cognizance of all criminal offences,
and other matters, arifing within the city of Baltimore, which are at this time
cognizable by the court of oyer and terminer and gaol delivery of Baltimore
county fhall be inquired into, heard, tried and determined, within the city of
Baltimore, in manner and form following; that is to fay, that the governor
and council fhall nominate, appoint and commiffion, two perfons of integrity
and found judgment refiding within the city or precincts of Baltimore, as affo-
ciate juftices of the Baltimore city court, to act in conjunction with the chief
juftice of the third diftrict, to tranfact the bufinefs of faid court, and which faid
court fhall hereafter be ftyled, in all legal proceedings, Baltimore City Court ;

and the faid juftices, or any two of them, fhall be and they are hereby em-