The Alexandria herald. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1811-1826, 1823-05-30
AN ACT.

the Peace, in the recovery OF debts, in (,
the district ofColumbiat Ii
Be it enacted by the senate and house
Of representatives Of the United States
Of America in congress assembled, That,
from and after the first day Of June next,
in all cases where the real debt and da.
images do not exceed the sum of fifty
dollars, exclusive of costs, it shall and
may be lawful for any one justice of the
peace. o. each respective county within
the district of Columbia, wherein the
debtor doth reside, to try, hear, and de-
termine, the matter in controversy be-
tween the creditor and debtor, their ex-
ecutors and administrators, and upon the
foil hearing of the allegations and evi,
dences, OF both parties, to give Judgment,
according TO the laws existing in ,hessid
district of Columbia, and the equity and |
right or the matter, In the same mans (
ner, and under the same rules and regu-
lations, to all in,ents and purposes, as
such justices Of the peace are now su-
thorised and empowered to do when the
debt and damages do not exceed the
sum Of twenty dollars. exclusive OF costs
Provided, nevertheless, That all justices
OF the peace of the said county, shall be
compelled, upon entering judgments up
on cases within their Jurisdiction, to enter
the same in such manner as shall carry
interest thereon from the date thereof,
until the same shall be paid or satisfied
And provided further, That no female in
any case whatever, and no male above
the age ofseventy years shall be liable to
1 be arrested or imprisoned for any debt
authorized to be sued for and recovered
by this act.
I Sec. g. That in all cases where judg-
ments shall be rendered by Justice Of
the peace, it shall be lawful for the de.
, PENDANT TO supersede the said Judgment,
at any time within sixty days from the
+, rendition of The same, which supersedeas
shall stay execution for six months there
after, and shall be taken by the Justice
who rendered the judgment,and no other;
: Provided such Justice is living in the
county in which said Judgment was rem
dered, and acting IN his judicial capaci-
ty; but if such justice shall not be SO
acting, then, and in that case, before any
other Justice OF the peace for the sfore
said county, who may be legally acting
: in that capacity.
Sec. s. That the justices Of the
peace within the distric, of Columbia be,
: and they are hereby, directed and il is
hereby made their duty; to keep a do.
1 quet, and therein to record, and make
u regular entries of their proceedings, il
y all cases in which they shall act in virtue
C of their Office, and they are hereby di
1t rected to furnish the plaintiffs and de
Is PENDANTS, respectively, with copy of an,
:. CURED on which copy, any other iustic,
" oil the peace OF the county is hereby au
thosiZed &c issue execution or fierf facias
y IN the same manner as executions arr
/ now issued by the clerk of the circui
8 court oil the district of Columbia. which
6 shall be returned within twenty DAYS ar
ter being issued, to the Justice who gave
the Judgment; and 10 judgment rendered
> before justice shall have the effect &c
u create any lien.uPon real estate
Sec. 4. That, if any justice of the
peace snail on,it to keep a doquet, as
: aforesaid, or be guilty of any other neg
lIgence or omission, by which the plain.
TIL (haylng obtained Judgment before
- such Jusilce,J shall lose his or her debt
;, that then, and In that case, the said Jus.
u tice shall pay and satisfy to the said plain.
j. titf the debt, interest, and costs. los, a,
aforesaid to he recovered by plant, be.
s. tore any other justice CT the peace, wl,e
IS shall on proof of the TACT, render iudp.
r ment against such defaul,ing Justice, to-
0, gether with any interest that NAV have
l. accrued on the debt.
s, Sec. 5. That each and every Justice
n oil the peace shall, and il is hereby made
his duty, upon his resignation or removal
II from Office, and it is also made the du,y
c OF his executors or administrators, upon
: the death any such justice of the peace
j. forthwith to deliver TO the clerk of the
circuit cour. Of the District of Columbia
within the county in which said Justice OF
: the peace officiateC, such doquet or do.
; quets as said justice of the peace, SO re
signing, removing, or dying, shall or NAV
B have had {: ADD il shall be the duty of the
i clerk III whose possession said doouet or
S doqne;s may be placed, to furnish copies
OF all such entries made in such doouet
or doque's, to persons applying therefor,
: and who may be entitled thereto, in the
{ same manner, and to have the same ef
: iect' as if said copies had been furnished
: by lhe said justices, SO resigDing, remoy-
: ing, or dying, as the case may be And.
ID case OF the death, resignation, removal
. from office, or other incspscity, of aDy
\ person who may have acted 40 a ;,,s,;.a