Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1880-10-09

such clerk rs is mentioned in the twenty
sixth section Of this article, shall exercise
any powers and discharge any duties here
toiore conferred on, or reqsired OF ny
CONT or tribunal established for Judicial
purposes under the said article and section
Of the constitution OF one thousand elght
hundred and seventy-two, or the clerk OF said
court or tribunal respectively, respecting
the recording anu preservation OF deeds ana
other papers presented Ter record, matters
Of probate, the appointment and qusiihca-
ton Of personal II presentatiyes, guardians,
committees, curatOrs and the settlement oil
their accounts, and in all matters relating
TO apprentices.
25. All actions, suits and proceedings not
embraced in the next preceding section,
pendingin a county court when this article
takes effect, together with the records ara
papers pertaining thereto as well as all
records and papers pertaining to such ac-
tions. suits and proceedings, a. have already
been DISPOSED Of by said courts shall be
transmitted to and fled with the clerk OF
The circuit court OF the county 10 which
Office all process outstanding at the time
this article goes into operation shall be
returned; and said clerk shall have the
same power and shall perform the same
duties in relation to such records, papers
and proceedings rs were vested IN aud re-
quircd OF the clerk Of the county court on
the dav before this article shall take effect.
All such actions, suits and proceedings so
pending as aforesaid, shall be docketed,
proc, eded in, tried, heard and determined
in all respects 10y the circuit court, as II
said suits and proceedings had originated
in said court.
%. The voters OF each county shall elect
clerk of the county court, whose term OF
Office shall be six years. His duties and
compensation, and tie manner Of his re-
movsd, shall be prescribed by law. ia.
the clerks Of said courts, now in office, shall
remain therein for the term Cor wi ich they
may have been elected, unless sooner re-
moved thereirom, in the manner prescribed
by Low.
u Each county shall be laid of into
districts, not less than three nor more than
ten in numbe and as nearly equal as may
be in territory and population. There shall
be elected in each district containing IA
p.pnlation not exceeding twelve hundr.d,
one Justice Of The peace, and if tie popula-
ton exceeds that number, two such justices
shsll be elected therein. Every justice
shall reside i'm the district for which he was
elected. and hold his Office for tenn OF four
years. ur less sooner removed in the manner
prescribed BY law. The districts as they
NOW exist. shall remain I'LL changed by the
county court.
q. The civil jurisdiction Of a justice OF
the p,ace shall extend TO actions Of assump-
sit. delft, detinue and troyer, if tie amount
claimed, exclusive OF interest, does not eN-
coed three hundred dollars. The jurisdic-
ton OF justices OF the peace shall extend
throughout their county; they shall be
conseryators OF the peace, ard have such
Jurisdiction and power in criminal c.s1s as
may be prescribed by law. And justices OF
the peace shall have authority TO take the
Acknowledgement OF deeds aud other writ
inrs. administer oaths, and take and certify
depcs'tions. And the legislature may give
10 justices such additional civil jurisdiction
and powers within their respective counties
as NAV be deemed expodient, under such
repnlaiions and restrictions ~ may be
prescribed by general law, except that in
suits to recover money or damages their
Jurisdiction and powers shall IN no case
exceed three hundred dollars. Appeals
shall be allowed from Judgments OF just ces
of the peace in such manner as may be
prescribed by law. -.
%. The legislature shall upon The sppli-
cation Of any county, reform, alter or
modify the county court estatlished 10y this
article in such county, snd in lieu thereof,
with the sent OF "a majority OF tie voters
o. such county, voting at an election, create
another tribunal for tbs transaction Of the
bu.iue. required 10 he performed by the
countvcourt created by this article; and in
such case, all the provisions Of this article
I'm relation to the county court shall be APP
plicable to the tribunal established in lieu
# said court. And when such tribunal has
been established, ii shall continue to act in
lien Of the county court until otherwise
provided by law.
30. The Office Of commissioner and JUS
lice Of pe4ce shall be doomed iucom-
psGMe. Vacancies in the Office Of COM
missioner, clerk OF the county court and
Justices II the peace shall be filed by the
bounty court Of the county until the next
;arorai election.