The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1880-09-22

and discharge any duties heretofore con-
feTred on, or required ofjany court or tri-
bunal established for judicial purposes un-
der the said article and section OF the con
stitution OF one thousand eight hundred
ahd seventy-two, or the clerk OF said court
or tribunal respectively, respecting the re-
cording and preservation OF deeds and 9TH
er papers presented for record, matters Of
probate, the appointment and qualification
OF personal representatives, guardians,
committees, curators and the settlement Oi
their accounts, and in all matters relating
to apprentices.
%. All actions, suits and proceedings not
embraced in the next preceding section,
pending in county court when this arti-
Gle takes effect, together with the records
and papers pertaining thereto US well rs
all records and papers pertaining to such
actions, suits and proceedings, as have al
ready been disposed of by said courts shall
be transmitted TO and filed with the clerk
OF the circuit court OF the county TO which
office all process outstanding at the time
this article goes into operation shall be re-
turned; and said clerk shall have the same
power and shall perform the same duties
in relation to such records, papers and
proceedings as were vested inand required
OF the clerk OF the county court, on the day
before this article shall take effect. All
such actions, suits and proceedings so
pending rs aforesaid, shall be docketed,
proceeded in, tried, heard and determined
in all respects by the circuit court, as ii
said suits and proceedings had originated
in said court.
2G The voters OF each county shall elect
a clerk OF the county court, whose term Of
office shall be six years. His duties and
compensation, and the manner OF his re-
moval, shall be prescribed by law. But
the clerks OF said courts, now in office,
shall remain therein for the term for which
they have been elected, unless sooner re-
moved therefrom, in the mannerpresCribed
by law.
"a Each county shall he laid off into
districts, not less than three nor more
than ten III number, and as nearly equal
rs may be i'll territory and population.
There shall be elected in each district con-
tanning population not exceeding twelve
hundred, one justice OF the peace, and ii
the population exceeds that number, two
such justices shall be elected therein. Ev-
cry justice shall reside in the district for
which he was elected, and hold his Office
Tor term OF four years, unless sooner re-
moved in the manner prescribed by law.
The districts as they now exist, shall re-
main till changed by the county court
2S. The civil jurisdiction Of a justice of
the peace shall extend to actions OF assump-
sit, debt, detinue and trover, Ii the amount
claimed, exclusive OF interest, does not ex-
coed three hundred dollars. The juriSdic-
ton OF justices OF the peace shall extend
throughout their county; they shall be
conservators Of the peace, and have such
Jurisdiction and power in criminal cases us
may be prescribed by law. And justices
OF the peace shall have authority 10 take
the acknowledgment of deeds and other
writings, administer oaths and take and
certify dispositions. And the legislature
may give to justices such additional civil
jurisdiction and powers within their re
spectlve counties MS may be deemed cxpe-
dent, under such regulations and restric-
tons as 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 dol
lars. Appeals shall be allowed from judy
ments OF justices OF the peace in such man
ner as may be prescribed by law.
80. The legislature shall upon the appli-.
cation OF any county, REFORM alter or mod
| lily the county court established by this
article in such county, and in lieu thereof,
with the assent OF majority OF the voters
OF such county, voting at an election, ere
ate another tribunal for the transaction Of
| the business required ltobe ipefformedbg
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 applicable to the tribunal established
in lieu of said court. And when said tri-
bunal has been established, it shall con-
tinue to act in lieu OF the county court I'M
til otherwise provided by law.
so. The office OF commissioner and JUS
tice Of the peace shall be deemed incoln-
patible. Vacancies in the office OF COM
missioner, clerk OF the county court and
justices OF the peace shall be filed by the
county court Of the county until the nexl
general election.