Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1880-08-07

raw. And. until otherwise provided by law,
snch clerk rs ia mentioned in the twenty
sixth section of this article, shall exercise
any powers and discharge any duties mere
totore conferred on, or required OIL ny
court or tribunal established Tor ludiciai
purposes under the said article and section
Of the constitution OF one thousand elgh,
hundred and seyeniy-two, or the clerk OF saii
court or tribunal respectively, respecting
the recording and preservation OF deeds anu
other papers presented ior record, nlatlels
Of probate, the appointment and qnaiiAca-
tion OF personal representatives. guardians;
committees caratOrs and the settlement Of
their accounts, and in all matters relating
10 apprentices. ~.
25. All actions, suits and proceedings not
embraced in the next preceding section,
pending in county court when tins article
takes effect, together with the records ara
papers pertaining thereto as well 80 AL
records aud papers pertaining to such ae-
tions, suits and proceedings as have ALREADY
been disposed Of by said courts shall be
transmitted to and filed With the clerk oil
the circuit court Of TIE county TO which
Office all process outstanding at the Tine
this article goes into operation shall he
returned; and said clerk shall have the
same mower and shall perform the same
duties in relation to such records papers
and proceedings as were vested in and re-
orired OF the clerk of the county court, on
the dav before this art Gle shall take effect
All such actions, suits and proceedings so
perdinc "a Aforesaid, shall be dockeed,
proc, eded in, tried, heard and determined
in all respects by the circuit court, as Il
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 anu
COMPENSATION, and the manner OF his re-
moyal. shall be prescribed 10y law But
the clerks OF said courts, now in Office shall
remain therein for the term for vi ich they
may have been elected, unless sooner re-
moved thercfrom, in the manner prescribed
by law.
d. Each county shall be laid OF into
districts. not less than three nor more than
ten in nlnube and rs nearly equal rs may
BE- IN territory and population. There shall
be elected in each district containing
population not exceeding twelve hundred,
one Justice Of the peace, and II the popula-
tion exceeds that number, two such justices
shall be elected therein. Eyew justice
shall reside in the district Tor which he was
elected. and hold his Office for term OF lour
years, ur less sooner removed III the manner
prescribed by law. The districts as they
now exist, shall remain I'LL changed 10y the
county count.
-. The civil juris LECTION OK justice CT
the peace shall extend 10 actions OF assump-
SIT. Debt. detinue and trover, if tie am0u t
claimed, exclusive OF interest, does not ex-
coed three hundred dollars. The jurlsdic.
ton OF justices OF the peace shall extend
throughout their county; they shall he
conservators of the peace, ard have such
jurisdiction and power in criminal cases MS
may be prescribed by law. And Justices oil
the peace shall have authority to take The
acknowledgment OF deeds and ot'ier writ
mos. administer oaths, and take and certify
dsnositions. And the legislature may give
IN ius,ices such additional civil jurisdiction
and mowers within their respective counties
rs nav be deemed expedient, under such
renulaiions and restrictions a. may he
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 fro judgments OF just Cos
of the peace in such manner as may be
prescribed by law.
%. The legislature shall upon the appli-
cation of any county, reform, alter or
modify the county court established by this
article in such county, and in lieu thereof,
with the assent OF majority OF TIE voters
O. such county, voting At an election, create
another tribunal Tor the transaction Of Che
business required TO lie performed by The
county court created by this article; and in
such case, all the provisions OF this article
in relation to the county court shall be APP
plicable to the tribunal established in lien
Of said court. And when such tribunal has
been established, it shall continue TO act in
lieu Of the county court until otherwise
provided by law.
30. The Office OF commissioner and JUS
lice of peace shall be deemed incnni-
pstible. Vacancies in the office OF COM
missioner, clerk OF the county court and
lust;ccs Il the peace shall be filled by the
tounty court Of the county until the next
I4noral election.
-. II 49,, ,..,,o>. No.. ', ompnS.