Chap. 311.—An ACT to increase the jurisdiction of justices of the peace for
the city of Richmond.

Approved February 9, 1800.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That an act
entitled “an act to amend and re-enact sections thirty-nine hundred and
fifty-five and thirty-nine hundred and fifty-six of the code of Virginia,
in relation to process for the arrest of persons charged with crime,”
approved February seventeenth, eighteen hundred and ninety-eight, be
amended and re-enacted so as to read as follows:

§ 3955. A judge of circuit, county, or corporation court in vacation, as
weil as in term, or a justice, may issue process for the arrest of a person
charged with an offense.

§ 3956. On complaint of a criminal offense to any such officer, he shall
examine on oath the complainant and any other witnesses, or when such
officer shall suspect that an offense punishable otherwise than bv fine
has been committed, he may, without formal complaint, issue a sum-
mons for witnesses, and shall examine such witnesses; and, if he sces
good reason to believe that an offense has been committed, shall issue
his warrant reciting the offense, and requiring the person accused to be
arrested and brought before a justice of the county or corporation, and
in the same warrant may require the officer to whom it is directed to
summon such witnesses as shall be therein named to appear and give
evidence on the examination: provided, that in cities and towns having
a police force, the warrant shall be directed “to any policeman of said
city (or town),” and shall be executed by the policeman into whose hands
it shall come or be delivered.

2. Nothing contained in this act shall impair the provisions of the
charter of any city or town which may provide for the issuance of process
for the arrest of persons charged with offenses.
3. This act shall be in force from its passage.