reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
RI Gen L § 8-3-2 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 8 - Courts and Civil Procedure – Courts|Chapter 8-3 - Justices of Supreme, Superior, and Family Courts|Section 8-3-2 - Precedence of associate justices.

§ 8-3-2. Precedence of associate justices.The associate justices shall have precedence in their respective courts according to the dates of their commissions, or when the commission of two or more of them bear the same date, according to their ages.History of Section.C.P.A. 1905, § 31; G.L. 1909, ch. 274, § 4; G.L. 1923, ch. 324, § 4; G.L. 1938, ch. 497, § 4; G.L. 1956, § 8-3-2.
RI Gen L § 8-3-3 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 8 - Courts and Civil Procedure – Courts|Chapter 8-3 - Justices of Supreme, Superior, and Family Courts|Section 8-3-3 - Vacancy in office or inability of chief justice of supreme court.

§ 8-3-3. Vacancy in office or inability of chief justice of supreme court.Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of chief justice of the supreme court, or whenever the chief justice shall be unable, by reason of illness or absence, to perform the duties of his or her office, the associate justice of the supreme court having precedence who is present and qualified to act shall perform the duties of the office until the vacancy shall be filled or the inability removed.History of Section.C.P.A. 1905, § 32; G.L. 1909, ch. 274, § 5; G.L. 1923, ch. 324, § 5; P.L. 1932, ch. 1878, § 1; G.L. 1938, ch. 497, § 5; G.L. 1956, § 8-3-3.
RI Gen L § 8-3-4 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 8 - Courts and Civil Procedure – Courts|Chapter 8-3 - Justices of Supreme, Superior, and Family Courts|Section 8-3-4 - Vacancy in office, inability, or absence of presiding justice of superior court.

§ 8-3-4. Vacancy in office, inability, or absence of presiding justice of superior court.Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of presiding justice of the superior court, or whenever the presiding justice shall be unable by reason of illness to perform the duties of his office, the associate justice of the superior court having precedence who is present and qualified to act shall perform the duties of the office until the vacancy shall be filled or the inability removed. In the event that the presiding justice determines that his or her absence will prevent him or her from performing the duties of his or her office, he or she shall designate an associate justice to perform the duties during the period of his or her absence.History of Section.C.P.A. 1905, § 32; G.L. 1909, ch. 274, § 5; G.L. 1923, ch. 324, § 5; P.L. 1932, ch. 1878, § 1; G.L. 1938, ch. 497, § 5; G.L. 1956, § 8-3-4; P.L. 1965, ch. 98, § 1; P.L. 1980, ch. 132, § 1.
RI Gen L § 8-3-5 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 8 - Courts and Civil Procedure – Courts|Chapter 8-3 - Justices of Supreme, Superior, and Family Courts|Section 8-3-5 - Repealed.

§ 8-3-5. Repealed.History of Section.C.P.A. 1905, § 30; G.L. 1909, ch. 274, § 3; G.L. 1923, ch. 324, § 3; G.L. 1938, ch. 497, § 3; G.L. 1956, § 8-3-5; Repealed by P.L. 1987, ch. 381, § 2. Section 7 of P.L. 1987, ch. 381 provides that the repeal of this section by that Act shall take effect on the date that Rhode Island Rules of Evidence adopted by the Supreme Court take effect. Those Rules took effect October 1, 1987.
RI Gen L § 8-3-6 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 8 - Courts and Civil Procedure – Courts|Chapter 8-3 - Justices of Supreme, Superior, and Family Courts|Section 8-3-6 - Justices as conservators of peace - Powers in criminal cases.

§ 8-3-6. Justices as conservators of peace — Powers in criminal cases.The justices of the supreme and superior court shall, by virtue of their office, be severally conservators of the peace throughout the state, and shall severally have the same power in criminal cases throughout the state that district courts have in their respective districts.History of Section.C.P.A. 1905, § 35; G.L. 1909, ch. 274, § 8; G.L. 1923, ch. 324, § 8; G.L. 1938, ch. 497, § 8; G.L. 1956, § 8-3-6.
RI Gen L § 8-3-7.1 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 8 - Courts and Civil Procedure – Courts|Chapter 8-3 - Justices of Supreme, Superior, and Family Courts|Section 8-3-7.1 - Repealed.

§ 8-3-7.1. Repealed.History of Section.P.L. 1997, ch. 93, § 2; P.L. 2005, ch. 165, § 1; P.L. 2007, ch. 126, § 1; P.L. 2007, ch. 179, § 1; Repealed by P.L. 2008, ch. 100, art. 35, § 2, effective June 26, 2008.
RI Gen L § 8-3-7.2 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 8 - Courts and Civil Procedure – Courts|Chapter 8-3 - Justices of Supreme, Superior, and Family Courts|Section 8-3-7.2 - No incremental retirement benefit for temporary service as chief justice, presiding justice or chief judge.

§ 8-3-7.2. No incremental retirement benefit for temporary service as chief justice, presiding justice or chief judge.No increment in salary resulting from any rule or regulation providing for an increment in salary for temporary service as chief justice, presiding justice or chief judge shall be construed to add to the annual salary of a judicial officer for purposes of retirement under § 8-3-7.History of Section.P.L. 1997, ch. 93, § 2; P.L. 2011, ch. 63, § 1; P.L. 2011, ch. 95, § 1.
RI Gen L § 8-3-8.1 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 8 - Courts and Civil Procedure – Courts|Chapter 8-3 - Justices of Supreme, Superior, and Family Courts|Section 8-3-8.1 - Repealed.

§ 8-3-8.1. Repealed.History of Section.P.L. 1997, ch. 93, § 2; P.L. 2007, ch. 126, § 1; P.L. 2007, ch. 179, § 1; Repealed by P.L. 2008, ch. 100, art. 35, § 2, effective June 26, 2008.
RI Gen L § 8-3-8.2 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 8 - Courts and Civil Procedure – Courts|Chapter 8-3 - Justices of Supreme, Superior, and Family Courts|Section 8-3-8.2 - No incremental retirement benefit for temporary service as chief justice, presiding justice or chief judge.

§ 8-3-8.2. No incremental retirement benefit for temporary service as chief justice, presiding justice or chief judge.No increment in salary resulting from any rule or regulation providing for an increment in salary for temporary service as chief justice, presiding justice or chief judge shall be construed to add to the annual salary of a judicial officer for purposes of retirement under § 8-3-8 or 8-3-8.1.History of Section.P.L. 1997, ch. 93, § 2; P.L. 2008, ch. 229, § 1; P.L. 2008, ch. 321, § 1.
RI Gen L § 8-3-9 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 8 - Courts and Civil Procedure – Courts|Chapter 8-3 - Justices of Supreme, Superior, and Family Courts|Section 8-3-9 - Computation of service time as to former courts.

§ 8-3-9. Computation of service time as to former courts.For purposes of determining eligibility for retirement under §§ 8-3-7 and 8-3-8, the years of service of any person who has served as an associate judge of the juvenile court prior to September 1, 1961, or who has served as a judge or clerk of a district court as constituted prior to September 15, 1969, or a judge of the workers' compensation court, shall be included as if the service had been on the court to which the person may have been subsequently appointed.History of Section.P.L. 1978, ch. 340, § 2; P.L. 1999, ch. 216, § 2; P.L. 1999, ch. 384, § 2.
RI Gen L § 8-3-10 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 8 - Courts and Civil Procedure – Courts|Chapter 8-3 - Justices of Supreme, Superior, and Family Courts|Section 8-3-10 - Service after retirement.

§ 8-3-10. Service after retirement.Any justice or judge of the supreme court, superior court, family court, or district court who shall retire in accordance with the provisions of § 8-3-7, 8-3-8, or 8-3-12 and who shall subsequently be assigned to perform service in accordance with § 8-3-7 or 8-3-8, when so assigned and performing such service, shall receive in addition to his or her retirement pension the difference in pay and fringe benefits between what he or she was entitled to receive under § 8-3-7, 8-3-8, or 8-3-12 prior to exercising his or her options available under § 8-3-11 and what a judge or justice with comparable state service time is receiving as a justice or judge of the court to which he/she is assigned, or a justice or judge of the court from which he/she retired, whichever is greater.History of Section.P.L. 1979, ch. 19, § 3.
RI Gen L § 8-3-12 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 8 - Courts and Civil Procedure – Courts|Chapter 8-3 - Justices of Supreme, Superior, and Family Courts|Section 8-3-12 - Retirement of judges with general assembly or office service.

§ 8-3-12. Retirement of judges with general assembly or office service.Any person, who has served as a member of the general assembly, as a general officer, and as a justice of the supreme court, the superior court, the family court, or the district court, whose combined service as a member of the general assembly, a justice, and a general officer is twenty (20) years or more and who has retired, resigned, and completed such service prior to January 1, 2014, shall, upon reaching the age of sixty-two (62) years, receive during life a sum equal to three-fourths (¾) of the highest annual salary that the person was receiving during such service.History of Section.P.L. 1974, ch. 272, § 1; P.L. 1979, ch. 19, § 1; P.L. 1979, ch. 407, § 1; P.L. 1979, ch. 408, § 1; P.L. 1983, ch. 76, § 1; P.L. 2014, ch. 38, § 1; P.L. 2014, ch. 41, § 1.
RI Gen L § 8-3-13 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 8 - Courts and Civil Procedure – Courts|Chapter 8-3 - Justices of Supreme, Superior, and Family Courts|Section 8-3-13 - Pension for surviving spouses or domestic partners of judges dying prior to May 10, 1974.

§ 8-3-13. Pension for surviving spouses or domestic partners of judges dying prior to May 10, 1974.Whenever any justice of the superior court, having served as a justice for at least seven (7) years who died prior to May 10, 1974 during active service, his or her surviving spouse or domestic partner shall receive annually thereafter, during his or her lifetime and so long as he or she remains unmarried or not in a domestic partnership, an amount equal to one-third (⅓) of the annual payment that the justice was receiving by way of salary or retirement pay at the time of his or her death.History of Section.P.L. 1974, ch. 272, § 1; P.L. 1983, ch. 76, § 1; P.L. 2007, ch. 510, § 1.
RI Gen L § 8-3-14 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 8 - Courts and Civil Procedure – Courts|Chapter 8-3 - Justices of Supreme, Superior, and Family Courts|Section 8-3-14 - Applicability of §§ 8-3-12 - 8-3-14.

§ 8-3-14. Applicability of §§ 8-3-12 — 8-3-14.Sections 8-3-12 — 8-3-14 shall be applicable to all justices of the supreme court whose retirement, resignation, or death occurred subsequent to January 1, 1963, and prior to May 10, 1974, and the surviving spouses of such justices so long as they remain unmarried. Any surviving spouses of justices eligible for benefits pursuant to this section shall receive benefits hereunder from the time of application therefor, and until their death or remarriage, and such benefits shall not be paid for any time between the death or resignation of such justice and May 10, 1974.History of Section.P.L. 1974, ch. 272, § 1; P.L. 1983, ch. 76, § 1.
RI Gen L § 8-3-17 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 8 - Courts and Civil Procedure – Courts|Chapter 8-3 - Justices of Supreme, Superior, and Family Courts|Section 8-3-17 - State contributions.

§ 8-3-17. State contributions.The state of Rhode Island shall make its contribution for the maintaining of the system established by § 8-3-16 and providing the annuities, benefits, and retirement allowances in accordance with the provisions of this chapter by annually appropriating an amount that will pay a rate percent of the compensation paid after December 31, 1989, to judges engaged after December 31, 1989. The rate percent shall be computed and certified in accordance with the procedures set forth in §§ 36-8-13 and 36-10-2 under rules and regulations promulgated by the retirement board pursuant to § 36-8-3. The amounts that would have been contributed shall be deposited in a special fund and not used for any purpose on the date contributions are withheld but no later than three (3) business days following the pay period ending in which contributions were withheld.History of Section.P.L. 1989, ch. 494, § 2; P.L. 1990, ch. 507, § 2; P.L. 2009, ch. 5, art. 10, § 4; P.L. 2009, ch. 68, art. 7, § 10; P.L. 2010, ch. 9, § 3; P.L. 2010, ch. 10, § 3; P.L. 2011, ch. 408, § 15; P.L. 2011, ch. 409, § 15; P.L. 2019, ch. 205, § 1; P.L. 2019, ch. 271, § 1.
RI Gen L § 8-3-18 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 8 - Courts and Civil Procedure – Courts|Chapter 8-3 - Justices of Supreme, Superior, and Family Courts|Section 8-3-18 - Calculation of retirement benefits.

§ 8-3-18. Calculation of retirement benefits.For purposes of the calculation of retirement benefits, in the event that any justice or judge of the supreme court, the superior court, the family court, or the district court participates or acquiesces in a state shutdown or in a reduced salary or a salary deferral plan consistent with any such plan imposed upon or agreed to by other state employees, his or her annual salary shall be calculated as if he or she had not participated or acquiesced in any such shutdown or plan.History of Section.P.L. 1991, ch. 129, § 4; P.L. 1991 ch. 174, § 4.
RI Gen L § 8-3-19 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 8 - Courts and Civil Procedure – Courts|Chapter 8-3 - Justices of Supreme, Superior, and Family Courts|Section 8-3-19 - Domestic partner - Definition.

§ 8-3-19. Domestic partner — Definition.For purposes of this chapter, "domestic partner" shall be defined as a person who, prior to the decedent's death, was in an exclusive, intimate and committed relationship with the decedent, and who certifies by affidavit that their relationship met the following qualifications:(1) Both partners were at least eighteen (18) years of age and were mentally competent to contract;(2) Neither partner was married to anyone else;(3) Partners were not related by blood to a degree which would prohibit marriage in the state of Rhode Island;(4) Partners resided together and had resided together for at least one year at the time of death; and(5) Partners were financially interdependent as evidenced by at least two (2) of the following:(i) Domestic partnership agreement or relationship contract;(ii) Joint mortgage or joint ownership of primary residence;(iii) Two (2) of: (A) joint ownership of motor vehicle; (B) joint checking account; (C) joint credit account; (D) joint lease; and/or(iv) The domestic partner had been designated as a beneficiary for the decedent's will, retirement contract or life insurance.History of Section.P.L. 2007, ch. 510, § 2.
RI Gen L § 8-3-20 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 8 - Courts and Civil Procedure – Courts|Chapter 8-3 - Justices of Supreme, Superior, and Family Courts|Section 8-3-20 - Severability.

§ 8-3-20. Severability.The holding of any section or sections or parts of this chapter to be void, ineffective, or unconstitutional for any cause shall not be deemed to affect any other section or part hereof.History of Section.P.L. 2011, ch. 408, § 15; P.L. 2011, ch. 409, § 15.
RI Gen L § 8-4-1 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 8 - Courts and Civil Procedure – Courts|Chapter 8-4 - Clerks of Supreme and Superior Courts|Section 8-4-1 - Clerk of supreme court.

§ 8-4-1. Clerk of supreme court.There shall be a clerk of the supreme court, with an office in Providence.History of Section.C.P.A. 1905, § 48; G.L. 1909, ch. 276, § 1; G.L. 1923, ch. 326, § 1; G.L. 1938, ch. 499, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 8-4-1.
RI Gen L § 8-4-2 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 8 - Courts and Civil Procedure – Courts|Chapter 8-4 - Clerks of Supreme and Superior Courts|Section 8-4-2 - Appointment and term of supreme court clerk.

§ 8-4-2. Appointment and term of supreme court clerk.In the month of April and every five (5) years thereafter, the chief justice of the supreme court with the advice and consent of the senate, shall appoint a clerk of the supreme court. The person so appointed shall hold office until the first day of May in the fifth year next after his or her appointment and until his or her successor is appointed and qualified.History of Section.G.L. 1896, ch. 24, § 6; P.L. 1901, ch. 809, § 2; C.P.A. 1905, § 1086; G.L. 1909, ch. 30, § 6; P.L. 1914, ch. 1035, § 1; G.L. 1923, ch. 30, § 3; P.L. 1936 (s.s.), ch. 2442, § 1; G.L. 1938, ch. 489, § 3; P.L. 1956, ch. 3832, § 2; G.L. 1956, § 8-4-2; P.L. 2002, ch. 109, § 2; P.L. 2002, ch. 425, § 2.
RI Gen L § 8-4-3 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 8 - Courts and Civil Procedure – Courts|Chapter 8-4 - Clerks of Supreme and Superior Courts|Section 8-4-3 - Vacancy in office of clerk.

§ 8-4-3. Vacancy in office of clerk.In case of a vacancy in the office of the clerk of the supreme court from any cause, the chief justice shall appoint some person to fill such vacancy for the balance of the unexpired term and until his or her successor is appointed and qualified.History of Section.G.L. 1923, ch. 30, § 3; P.L. 1936 (s.s.), ch. 2442, § 1; G.L. 1938, ch. 489, § 3; G.L. 1956, § 8-4-3; P.L. 2003, ch. 267, § 1.
RI Gen L § 8-4-3.1 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 8 - Courts and Civil Procedure – Courts|Chapter 8-4 - Clerks of Supreme and Superior Courts|Section 8-4-3.1 - Repealed.

§ 8-4-3.1. Repealed.History of Section.P.L. 1981, ch. 266, § 2; Repealed by P.L. 1996, ch. 138, § 1, effective July 1, 1996.
RI Gen L § 8-4-4 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 8 - Courts and Civil Procedure – Courts|Chapter 8-4 - Clerks of Supreme and Superior Courts|Section 8-4-4 - Clerks of superior court.

§ 8-4-4. Clerks of superior court.There shall be a clerk of the superior court for the counties of Providence and Bristol, and a clerk of the superior court for each of the counties of Newport, Washington, and Kent.History of Section.C.P.A. 1905, § 49; G.L. 1909, ch. 276, § 2; G.L. 1923, ch. 326, § 2; P.L. 1932, ch. 1856, § 2; G.L. 1938, ch. 499, § 2; G.L. 1956, § 8-4-4.
RI Gen L § 8-4-4.1 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 8 - Courts and Civil Procedure – Courts|Chapter 8-4 - Clerks of Supreme and Superior Courts|Section 8-4-4.1 - Retirement of superior court clerks as clerks emeritus.

§ 8-4-4.1. Retirement of superior court clerks as clerks emeritus.Any clerk of the superior court serving on or after May 16, 1984 and who retires from the position of clerk under the state retirement system after having served not less than nine (9) years in the position shall, upon such retirement, be deemed to be clerk emeritus of the superior court, shall retain the authority and power of a clerk of the superior court, including but not limited to the authority and power to join persons in marriage in any city or town in this state, and shall be available, subject to the retiree's physical and mental competence, for assignment for active duty as clerk of the superior court without additional compensation therefor by the presiding judge thereof.History of Section.P.L. 1984, ch. 435, § 1.
RI Gen L § 8-4-5 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 8 - Courts and Civil Procedure – Courts|Chapter 8-4 - Clerks of Supreme and Superior Courts|Section 8-4-5 - Appointment, terms, and salaries of superior court clerks.

§ 8-4-5. Appointment, terms, and salaries of superior court clerks.In the month of May, 1971, and in the month of January in 1976 and in every fifth year thereafter, the presiding justice of the superior court, with the advice and consent of the senate, shall appoint a clerk of the superior court for the counties of Providence and Bristol, and a clerk of the superior court for each of the counties of Newport, Washington, and Kent. The persons so appointed shall hold office until the first day of February in the fifth year next after their appointment and until their successors are appointed and qualified. They shall be entitled to the same longevity salary increases as though they were in the classified service.History of Section.P.L. 1911, ch. 720, § 1; G.L. 1923, ch. 30, § 6; P.L. 1932, ch. 1856, § 1; P.L. 1936 (s.s.), ch. 2441, § 1; G.L. 1938, ch. 489, § 4; G.L. 1956, § 8-4-5; P.L. 1968, ch. 128, § 1; P.L. 1971, ch. 168, § 1; P.L. 1972, ch. 250, § 1; P.L. 1973, ch. 209, § 1; P.L. 1978, ch. 205, art. IX, § 4; P.L. 2005, ch. 10, § 1; P.L. 2005, ch. 21, § 1.
RI Gen L § 8-4-6 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 8 - Courts and Civil Procedure – Courts|Chapter 8-4 - Clerks of Supreme and Superior Courts|Section 8-4-6 - Vacancies in office of superior court clerk.

§ 8-4-6. Vacancies in office of superior court clerk.In case of a vacancy in the office of clerk of the superior court for the counties of Providence and Bristol, or in the office of clerk of the superior court of either of the counties of Newport, Washington, or Kent, from any cause, the presiding justice of the superior court with the advice and consent of the senate shall appoint some person to fill such vacancy for the balance of the unexpired term and until his or her successor is appointed and qualified.History of Section.G.L. 1923, ch. 30, § 6; P.L. 1936 (s.s.), ch. 2441, § 1; G.L. 1938, ch. 489, § 4; G.L. 1956, § 8-4-6; P.L. 2005, ch. 10, § 1; P.L. 2005, ch. 21, § 1.
RI Gen L § 8-4-7 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 8 - Courts and Civil Procedure – Courts|Chapter 8-4 - Clerks of Supreme and Superior Courts|Section 8-4-7 - Repealed.

§ 8-4-7. Repealed.History of Section.C.P.A. 1905, § 50; G.L. 1909, ch. 276, § 3; G.L. 1923, ch. 326, § 3; G.L. 1938, ch. 499, § 3; G.L. 1956, § 8-4-7; Repealed by P.L. 1980, ch. 96, § 1. For present law see § 42-20-9.
RI Gen L § 8-4-8 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 8 - Courts and Civil Procedure – Courts|Chapter 8-4 - Clerks of Supreme and Superior Courts|Section 8-4-8 - General duties of clerks.

§ 8-4-8. General duties of clerks.The superior court clerks shall constantly attend the sittings of their respective courts, shall keep the seal, books, and papers thereof, shall collect and receive all fines and costs in criminal cases, and all court fees in civil cases and shall account therefor as required by law, shall make fair entries and records of all the proceedings, judgments, orders, and decrees therein either in writing or by means of an electronic storage system or other data compilation system, shall furnish stationery to be allowed by the court for the use of the court, and shall do and perform all other things which by law or the rules of the court shall appertain to their office.History of Section.C.P.A. 1905, § 51; G.L. 1909, ch. 276, § 4; G.L. 1923, ch. 326, § 4; G.L. 1938, ch. 499, § 4; G.L. 1956, § 8-4-8; P.L. 1980, ch. 93, § 1; P.L. 1989, ch. 202, § 1.
RI Gen L § 8-4-9 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 8 - Courts and Civil Procedure – Courts|Chapter 8-4 - Clerks of Supreme and Superior Courts|Section 8-4-9 - Duty to recite pleadings in record of judgment.

§ 8-4-9. Duty to recite pleadings in record of judgment.The superior court clerks shall, in the record of every judgment, recite the substance of the pleadings in the cause, except that the court may by general rule, general order, or special order direct in what manner and to what extent, if any, the pleadings in any or all causes which are entered in either of the courts shall be extended upon the records; and whenever, by accident, neglect, or otherwise, except by order of the court, any clerk shall have failed to record the proceedings of the court of which he or she is clerk, in any cause pending before it, the court may direct the acting clerk to record the proceedings, upon such evidence as may be satisfactory to it, giving notice to the parties interested, or their attorneys, whenever from the circumstances of the case the court may deem proper.History of Section.C.P.A. 1905, § 52; G.L. 1909, ch. 276, § 5; P.L. 1922, ch. 2168, § 1; G.L. 1923, ch. 326, § 5; G.L. 1938, ch. 499, § 5; G.L. 1956, § 8-4-9.