The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-02-20

offices, as also for accounting for and
paying over as required by law, all
moneys which may come to their hands
by virtue thereof; they shall further pro-
vide for the compensation Of such Off
GERS, whether by fees, from the county
treasury, or otherwise; and for the
appointment, when necessary, OF depu-
ties and assistants, whose duties and
responsibilities shall be prescribed by
law When the compensation OF an
officer is paid from the county treasury.
the amount shall be paid by the COM
missioners OF the county.
At the first session of the Legislature,
after the adoption of this Constitution,
they shall, by law, authorize two or
more OF the counties, which may have
chosen the plan OF county organization
and government, prescribed by the sec
tions before mentioned, by the concur
renee Of their respective boards of
commissioners, or any one OF said
counties, to elect county judge by the
vote OF the qualified voters OF said
county or counties. The judge thus
elected shall hold a court in each Of
said counties, to be called the county
court for said county; said court shall
be a court of record, with a clerk and
seal. The judge OF said court shall be
elected on a day to be prescribed by
law, shall be commissioned by the
Governor, and shall hold hiss Office for
the term OF six years. He shall receive
such salary, or compensation, as may
be ascertsned and fixed for each county
by the commissioners thereof, before he
shall have been so elected; which sal
airy shall neither be increased or dimin-
ished during his continuance in office |
Any vacancy in the office OF judge OF
the county courts, shall be filed for the
unexpired term thereof by the commits
siouers Of the county or the concurring
vote Of a majority of the commissioners
of each county for which he may have
been so elected judge OF the county
court.
The county courts shall have original
and exclusive jurisdiction of all misde-
meanors, excepting perjury and suborna-
ton Of perjury, and OF all crimes not
punishable By death or confinement IN
the penitentiary, upon presentments to
be preferred by the prosecuting attor-
ney; and OF all prosecutions for the re-
covery of fines and penalties, whether
posed by acts Of the Legislature or
the ordinances Of a city or incorporated |
town, duly authorized by law. They |
shall also have original aud general |
jurisdiction of all matters at law, where
the matter in controversy, exclusive OF
interest, exceeds twenty dollars, and all
cases in equity They shall also have
appellate jurisdiction 10 all civil cases,
from the judgments OF Justices OF the
peace, where the amount 10 controversy, !
exclusive OF interest and costs, shall
exceed ten dollars, in such manner and
upon such terms as may he prescribed
bv law. They shall nave the power to
receive the proof of wills, and admit
them to probate; to appoint and qualify |
personal representatives., guardians,
committees and curators; with such |
other jurisdiction, both original and
appellate, as may be prescribed by law,
not inconsistent with or repugnant to
this Constitution.
The Recorder OF each county shall |
be be Clerk of the County Court for
said county, and as such clerk shall
give such bond perform such duties and
receive such compensation as may be
prescribed by law
The civil jurisdiction ia Justice Of
the Peace shall extend TO actions OF
assumpsit, debt detinue and trover, II
the amount claimed, exclusive OF lnte-
rest, does not exceed one hundred dol
dars; but where the amount thus
claimed shall exceed twenty dollars, on
the application Of the defendant, either
in person or by counsel, may at any
time before trial or Judgment. il shall be
the duty of the Justice Of the Peace to
transmit the papers in the case to the
Clerk of the County Court, to be dock
eted in said court and therein prose
cuted as may lie prescribed by law.
The jurisdiction of justices OF the
peace shall extend throughout their
county; they shall be eonservators OF
the peace, and have such jurisdiction
and powers in criminal cases as may
he prescribed by law, not rePugnant to
this Constitution.