Chap. 32.—An ACT to Incorporate the Town of Martinsville, in the
County of Henry.

In force January 16, 1873.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly, That the town of
Martinsville, in the county of Henry, as the same has here-
tofore been, or may hereafter be, laid off into lots, streets, and
alleys, shall be, and the same is hereby made, a town corporate
by the name of the town of Martinsville, and by that name
shall have and exercise the powers conferred upon towns by the
fifty-fourth chapter of the Code of eighteen hundred and sixty,
so far as the same is in force; and shall be subject to and
governed by all laws now in force, or which may hereafter pass,.
for the government of towns containing less than five thousand.
inhabitants.

2. The boundaries of said town shall be as follows, to wit:
beginning at a stake west of tan-yard branch, running thence
north twenty-two degrees fifteen minutes east, eighty-three
poles, crossing turnpike road leading to Waller's ford to a stake
near a bunch of chestnut stumps; thence north sixty-three
degrees east, one hundred and forty-nine poles, crossing
Bryant's and Jack Fountain’s spring branches (near their junc-
tion), and the Martinsville and Rocky Mount road to a stake
north of the residence of Mrs. Griggs; thence south thirty-three
degrees east, two hundred and forty-two poles, crossing Bul-
lington’s branch and the Danville road, to a small oak near said
road, south fourteen degrees east, sixty-seven and one-quarter
poles to a corner pine, north seventy-three and one-half degrees
west one hundred and sixty poles, crossing Thomas’ spring
branch, to a corner pine, north sixty and one-half degrees west,
one hundred and thirty-six poles, crossing the turnpike leading
to the bridge, to a corner pine on aridge ; thence north seventy-
six degrees, west thirty-six poles, crossing tan-yard branch to:
the beginning.

3. The officers of said town shall consist of seven trustees,
who shall compose the council, a majority of whom may con-
stitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and the fol-
lowing named persons shall constitute the board of trustees,
to wit: Fleming Saunders, George D. Granly, Jesse B.
Lavender, James M. Smith, jr., George E. Waller, G. T.
Griggs, Charles L. Putzel, and Charles J. Jones, to hold their
offices until their successors are elected and qualified according
to law. ‘The board of trustees shall have power to pass all by-
laws and ordinances for the government of said town that they
may deem proper, not in conflict with the constitution of this
state and the constitution of the United States; and, also to
provide for the keeping of the streets in order, opening new
streets, and grading and paving the same, and for other neces-
sary improvements, for which purpose they may levy such tax
as they may deem proper on all the property in said town, and
on all vocations, professions, or business as are subject to taxa-
tion by the revenue laws of this state.

4. The board of trustees shall elect from their own body a
president, who shall preside at all their meetings, and when
they are equally divided, shall, in addition to his individual vote,
give the casting vote. He shall also be the mayor of the town,
and shall be vested with all the powers of a justice of the peace
within the limits of the said town, except that no civil warrants
shall be tried by him.

5. In addition to the above named officers, there shall be
elected annually, by the qualified voters of said town, a town
sergeant, who shall be a conservator of the peace, and be in-
vested with the full powers of a constable within the limits of
said town, and also have power to arrest offenders within one
mile of said limits for offences committed within the limits of
said town. He shall collect the town taxes, and may distrain
and sell therefor in hke manner as a collector of taxes may dis-
train and sell for state taxes, and shall have in other respects
the power to enforce the collection thereof, provided, however,
that no assessment shall be made for taxes on any real estate
within said corporate limits, except the lots and buildings em-
braced in the plan of said town, unless the said tract is wholly
included within the limits of said corporation, until an election
is held by law for said sergeant. The board of trustees shall,
by a vote of a majority of a quorum, appoint one to act until
his successor is elected and qualified.

6. This act shall be in force from its passage.