Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1867-04-04
PUBLIC-No 10 I

AN ACT 10 regulate proceedings befor. ms.
noes OF the peace in the District of CoIuu
bla. and for other purposes
BE al enacted By the Senate and Hons, of R,,rs-
Sentdures 81 the United States of America in Com
gress assembled, That justices of the peace m
me District OF Columbia shall have jurisdic-
ton In all cases where the amount Claimed 70
De due Tor debt or damages arising out of CON
tracts, express or implied, or damages for
wrongs or injuries to persons or properly.
does not exceed one hundred dollars aycent ~
cases wing the title TO real estate actions
TO recover damages for assault or assault anS
battery, or for malicious prosecution, or ac :
lions against justices OF the peace or other
officers for misconduct in office, or i'm Actions
for SANDER, verbal or written.
SEC. 2 And be 1T further enacted, That the
supreme court of said district shall make and
establish rules OF practice, and prepare and
pubhsh forms OF pleadings for bringing ain
forms Of action, and the trial thereof befora
said justices of the peace, and shall fl Z and
determine a bill OF fees and costs TO be taxad
and charged by the said justices, and bv the
constables OF said District Of Columbia. in Ali
civil suits in SAID District.
SIC; 3. and te a further enacted, That there
shall be no stay OF execution on any Judgment
obtained before any justice of the peace for the
wages OF any servant or common laborer or
upon any judgment for less than i've dollars:
but execution may issue for the collection
thereof Immediately, and Judgment shall no
entered within two days after the trial of ,ba
action But on all judgments or fines, except
as aI0resald' stay OF execution shall be entered
as follows: For the sum of five dollars and
not exceeding twenty dollars. one month. tor
all sums over twenty dollars and not exceed.
ing forty dollars, two months; for all sums
over forty dollars and not exceeding seventy
five dollars, four months; for all sums excesd
ing seventy five dollars. six months: Pror,dsd
good and sufficient security be entered bv q
person or persons who may he at the time the
owner OF sum Gent property located in said dis.
Ilct, above all liabilities and exemptions To
secure said debt. costs, and interests
SEC I. And be 1t further enac ed, That all ms.
mas
civil and criminal. returnable before tharo
selves but any party, or agent or attornev
thereof may have the cause removed To fhs
nearest justice upon filing an affidavit with
SAID lustee on the return DAY or day of trial
of said action, that he or she does not believe
SAID justice viii give him or her a fair ana
Impartial trial on account of prejudice or
other reasonable cause
SIC. }. And be II further enacted That M ra-
son IN said District shall be fined or Imprisoned
for disorderly conduct unless such person wss
PeIsonaily and individually guilty of acts dis
orderly In themselves; and any on Ger i'm SAID
Dlstrlct who uses unnecessary and wanton
severity In arrestiHg or imprisonlpR anv mar
son snail be deemed guilty of assault and hat
therefor. fS"oo
SEC. s. And Be 1t further enacted. Tha, f., Of,
criminal cases or offences charged the inst,na
naNing JURISDICTION thereof shall allow Inc de-
iencant asonaole time to prepare for defence
or obtain bail, and no exoFbitant baiI shan -,
any case be required AZ
oEC' q <sRd De az further enacted That non
residents OF saio District shall not conmsncs
suit before any justice of the peace therein
without hrst giving sufficient security for
costs. 4oi
SIC. g. and be ii further enacted, That wben
any person or persons shall be arrested ON q
warrant for committing an assault or an assault
ana battery, or an ARRAY, issued on the com.
plant OF the party injured by any Justice OF
Ine peace OF SAID District, or in case OF an
array, on the complaint Of any person who
snail nave seen the same every such person or
persons shall be taken before the iustice who
issued the warrant, or if he be absent or other
wlseincapable of acting, then before the nearest
other justice IN said district, and he or thee
snail De admitted TO plead guilty of the charge
preferred and the said Justice before whom
such plea may be pleaded shall have powsr
anu ne Is hereby authorized, TO assess sucb
nne or penalty as authorized by law ana
enter Judgment therefor against the person an
pleading guilty and for cost, and issue execu.
ton thereon as In civil cases
SEC. y. and be AZ further enacted That ALI acts
or parts OF acts OF the legislature OF Naryiand
or OF congress, now In force, in on sistent Win
the provisions OF this act, are hereby repesIad
and this act shall take effect and be In Sorcs
from and after its passage W. - t04 ee
Approved, February %, 1867