Chap. 621.—An ACT to amend and re-enact section 2939 of the
code of Virginia in relation to jurisdiction of justices of the

peace.
Approved March 3, 1892.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia,
That section two thousand nine hundred and thirty-nine
of the code of Virginia of eighteen hundred and eighty-
seven, be amended and re-enacted so as to read as follows:

§ 2939. Any claim to specific personal property, or to
any debt, fine or other money, or to damages for breach of
any contract, or for any injury done to property, real or
personal, which would be recoverable by action at law, or
suit in equity, shall, when the claim is to a fine, if the
amount of such claim does not exceed twenty dollars, and
in all other cases, if the claim do not exceed one hundred
dollars (exclusive of interest), be cognizable by a justice,
even though the claim be for or against the town or county
in which such justice resides; but in every case where the
amount or thing in controversy exceeds the sum or value
of twenty dollars, the justice shall, upon the application
of the defendant and upon affidavit that he has a substan-
tial defence thereto at any time before trial, remove the
cause and all the papers thereof to the court of the county
or corporation wherein the warrant has been brought, and
the clerk of the said court shall forthwith docket the
same, but it shall not be tried at any time except by con-
sent of parties, unless it shall have been so docketed ten
days previous thereto. On such trial the proceedings shall
conform to section thirty-two hundred and eleven.

- 2. This act shall be in force from its passage.