De 131 855

Entered according to ACT OF CONGRESS, in the year 1855, by
WILLIAM M. MORRISON & CO.,

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the District of Columbia.

STEREOTYPED AND PRINTED BY J. HARDING, 57 SOUTH THIRD STREET, PHILADELPHIA.

PUBLISHERS' PREFACE.

Some months since, the learned author of the following work was induced to prepare for publication, an "Abstract of the Collection and other Laws of most general interest) of the District of Columbia," the first edition of which being soon exhausted, a second soon afterwards appeared, which, being also soon exhausted, and a very general desire being expressed for a third and more enlarged edition of the work, the author has been prevailed upon to furnish it.

The work having thus rapidly passed to a third edition, and received the unqualified approbation of the press and public, further comment in this place, or commendation of its value and importance to every member of the community, is wholly unnecessary.

W. M. MORRISON & CO.

WASHINGTON CITY, D. C., 1855.

Attachment,

Attorney and Client

Courts of the District, when held, &c.,

Court of Claims vs. the United States,

CONTENTS.

Court, Orphans'-Its Powers, Jurisdiction, &c.,

Codification of the Laws of the District (vide postscript),
Deeds of Real and Personal Property, Execution, Acknowledg-

ment and Registration of,

Descents,
Divorce,

Duelling,

Execution, what may be taken in, what not,
Execution, Property exempt from,
Execution, &c.,

Execution, Effect of upon Property,

Extortion,

Interest, &c.,

Intestates' Estate,

Imprisonment for Debt,

Insurance Agencies,

Judicial Organization of the District, Observations on,
Justices of the Peace, their Jurisdiction, Powers, &c.,
Judgment, &c.,

Judgment, &c., Effect of upon Property,

Libel,

Lottery Tickets,

Landlord and Tenant,

Limitations of Actions,

Married women, Rights of,
Merchandize on Commission,

Malicious Mischief,

Malicious Prosecution,

Negroes and Mulattoes, free,

Pawn Brokers,
Patents,

Suit, Commencement of, &c.,
Supersedeas, &c.,
Sole Trader,

Slaves,

Slaves of non-residents,

Slave Trade and Slave Depots,

Page 4

Threatening Letters,

Taxes Tax Sales-Tax Titles, &c.,

Usury, &c.,

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ABSTRACT

OF THE

LAWS

OF THE

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

General Observations on the Judicial Organization of the District.

The laws of Maryland, which were of force on the 27th of February, 1801, with the few exceptions in which they have been repealed, altered, or modified by acts of Congress, prevail in the District of Columbia, together with such laws as have been enacted by Congress before and since that time.

The laws regulating rights have not been materially changed; but the organization of the Courts is, of course, wholly distinct.

The judicial power is vested in a Circuit Court, consisting of a Chief Judge, and two Assistant Judges; one Criminal Court, consisting of one Judge, vested with exclusively criminal jurisdiction; one Orphans' Court, consisting of one Judge; and Justices of the Peace.

The Judges of the Circuit Court have all the powers vested by law in the Circuit Courts of the United States, and the Judges thereof. In some respects, even, it has been held that the power of the Circuit Court of the District of Columbia is more extensive than that of the Circuit Court of the United States in the several States, to whom the entire judicial power of the United States under the Constitution, has not been committed. (Kendall, P. M. General, vs. the United States. 12 Peters, 524.)

From the judgment of this Court there lies an appeal, in cases where the matter in dispute is of the value of one thousand dollars and upwards, to the Supreme Court of the United States.

Of Imprisonment for Debt.

No person can be held to bail in any civil suit, nor imprisoned for any debt, except corporation fines, and then not exceeding ninety days for any one offence. (Act of Congress, Feb. 2, 1853.)

Of False Pretences.

Every person duly convicted of obtaining by false pretences, any goods or chattels, money, bank note, promissory note, or any other instrument in writing, for the payment or delivery of money, or other valuable things, shall be sentended to suffer imprisonment and labor in the penitentiary, for a period not less than one, nor more than five years. (Act of Congress, March 2, 1831. Stat. at Large, vol. 4, 449.) This act re-enacts the act of 30, Geo. 2, c. 24, respecting false pretences, by which any designed misrepresentation of the defendant's means, by which he obtains money or goods of another, is within the statute. Any and every false assertion, or pretence whatsoever, by means of which the party fraudulently obtains the goods or money, &c., is a false pretence within the statute. (5 Cranch, C't C't R. 647.)

Times of Holding Courts.

The Supreme Court of the United States meets in the Capitol, in December, in every year.

The Circuit Court sits semi-annually, on the 4th Monday in March, and 3d Monday in October.

Suit may be instituted at any time; process being returnable at the commencement of the next succeeding term.

The Criminal Court meets the first Monday in March, third Monday in June, and first Monday in December.

The Orphan's Court meets on Tuesdays and Saturdays of every week.

Justices of the Peace sit in their respective offices every day except Sundays.