188                              LAWS OF MARYLAND                      [CH. 127

92.

Any reputable person being a resident of the State of Maryland,
having knowledge of a child in any county or the City of Baltimore
of said State who appears to be a minor without proper care or
guardianship, if, in the City of Baltimore or [said child appears

to be a minor sixteen years of age or older or if] in any county

said child appears to be a minor eighteen years of age or older,

GUARDIANSHIP, AND IS EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE OR
OLDER, said child not being an inmate of a State institution, or of
any institution incorporated under the laws of the State of Maryland
for the care and [correction] rehabilitation of children, or of
any [reform] training school [or industrial school] for juvenile
offenders, and having knowledge of the person or persons re-
sponsible for or contributing to the condition of said child, may
file with the clerk of the circuit court for the county, or of the
Criminal Court of Baltimore City, a petition in writing, setting
forth the facts verified by affidavit; or the judge of the circuit
court for the county in which the child resides or of the Criminal
Court of Baltimore City, on his personal knowledge, or on infor-
mation given him may direct such petition to be filed by, a duly
appointed probation officer, or by the State's attorney for the
county or city. The petition shall set forth the name and residence
of the child, and of its parents or guardians, or other persons
having the custody, control or supervision of such child, and of
the person or persons responsible for or contributing to the condi-
tion of such child; and that the child is a minor without proper
care or guardianship, and it shall be sufficient that the affidavit
to the facts set forth in the petition is on information and belief.

Upon the filing of the petition a summons shall issue requiring
all persons named in the petition to appear at a place and time
stated in the summons which time shall not be less than twenty-
four hours after service. Such summons may be served by the
sheriff or constable, or police officer, or a probation officer. If the
person summoned shall fail to appear, the court may issue an
attachment for such person's personal attendance in court at the
time to be stated therein, and upon the execution of the attachment
such person may give bond for his appearance at the time stated
therein in such sum as the court may direct. If it shall be made
to appear by affidavit, that there are good reasons to believe, that
any person proceeded against under this subtitle will leave the
jurisdiction of the court before the day set for the trial of the
proceedings herein, the court may cause a warrant to issue directed
to the sheriff or an officer authorized by law to serve a warrant
commanding such officer to take the person named therein, and
bring him forthwith before the court, or the judge thereof, and
the court or judge thereof, may thereupon require such person to
give bond for his appearance at the time named for trial, or may
make such interlocutory orders as are proper in the premises.

Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That, as of and after the
effective date of this Act, (1) all cases, proceedings, and matters
pending in or being considered by any of the Courts of the Supreme
Bench of Baltimore City, under the provisions of Sections 239
to 257, inclusive, of Article 4 of the Code of Public Local Laws
of Maryland (1949 Edition, as amended), title "Baltimore City",
subtitle "Juvenile Causes"; and (2) any offense, occurrence, or