CHAP. 27.—An ACT to amend the charter of the city of Staunton.
Approved February 2, 1880.

l. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That
sections nine, forty-eight, fifty-seven, fifty-nine, sixty-two and
sixty-four of an act entitled an act providing a charter for the
city of Staunton, chapter two hundred and seventy-three of
Sessions Acts of eighteen hundred and seventy-two, be amended
and re-enacted so as to read as follows:
7 § 9. In addition to the powers given to him by virtue of this
ju. act, or that may hereafter be given to him by any other act of
assembly, the mayor shall, by virtue of his oftice, he the police
justice of said city, and as such possess all the jurisdiction
and exercise all the powers and authority in criminal cases
within the territorial limits of the jurisdiction of the corpora-

tion court of said city, namely, the court of hustings for the §-

city of Staunton, that are possessed and exercised by the
county justices of this state in like cases in their respective |
counties, and also such other powers and jurisdiction as shall
be conferred upon him as police justice by the city council,
not in conflict with the constitution and laws of the United
States and of the state of Virginia. The city council shall
jee Dave power to prescribe by ordinance what person or persons
b- among the officials of the city shall have the powers and dis-
YOR charge the duties of police justice in the absence of the mayor
from. the city, or in case of his inability to act, from sickness
or any other cause, and also in any case in respect to which
the mayor is, in his judgment, so situated as to render it im-
proper for him to act as police justice. He shall receive no
fees as police justice, but the city council may, in the exercise
of its discretion, fix the salary of the mayor with reference to
the duties of his office as such police justice.
the §48. There shall be elected by the qualified voters of each
‘4 ward, on the fourth Thursday in May next, and on the fourth
Thursday in May in every second year thereafter, three justices
of the peace for each ward of the said city, who shall be residents
of their respective wards, and shall hold office for the term of two
years, and until their successors be elected and qualify, unless
sooner removed from oflice. ‘The said justices of the peace
shall be conservators of the peace within the territorial limits
over which the cerporation court of said city has jurisdiction,
and shall have the same powers and duties within said limits
and receive for their services such fees as are provided by law
in respect to justices of the peace in counties of this state in
tto their respective counties. But said justives of the peace shall
of not sit for the examination of persons accused of felony or
misdemeanor, or for the trial of persons accused of misde-
y meanor, save that the city council may, if it deems proper,
ee prescribe by ordinance that one or more of said justices shall
- discharge some or all of the duties of police justice when the
mayor is absent from the city, or from sickness, inability or
other legal cause, he is excused from acting as such justice.
§ 57. The collector of city taxes shall, under the direction
». Of the city council, cause a notice of the time and place of
' guch sale to be published in all the newspapers published in
said city at least ten days previous to such sale; and he shall
also cause to be published in one or more of said papers, on
some day, not more than twenty days nor less than ten days
previous to such sale, a list of the several parcels of real estate
so to be sold, describing therein each parcel of real estate in
the same manner as the same is described in the assessment
rolls in which the said tax or assessment is imposed thereon,

together with the name of the person to whom each parcel is
assessed and the amount of the tax or assessment thereon.

§ 59. If at any such sale no bid shall be made for any such
parcel of land, or such bid shall not be equal to the tax or as-
sessment, with interest and charges, then the same shall be
struck off to the city. On such sale the collector shall execute
to the city a certificate of sale, in which the property purchased
shall be described, and the aggregate amount of tax or assess-
ment, with charges and expenses specified, and shall deposit
such certificate with the clerk of the hustings court.

§62. The purchaser of any real estate sold for taxes and
not redeemed, shall, after the expiration of two years from the
sale, obtain from the clerk of the hustings court of the city of
Staunton a deed conveying the same, wherein shall be set forth
what appears in his office in relation to the sale. When the
purchaser has assigned the benefit of his purchase the deed
may, with his assent, evidenced by his joining therein, or by a
writing annexed thereto, be executed to his assignee. If the
purchaser shall have died, his heirs or assigns may move the
court of hustings of said city to order the clerk of said court
to execute a deed to such heirs or assigns.

§64. In case that any real estate struck off to the city as
hereinbefore provided shall not be redeemed within the time
specified, the clerk of the hustings court of the city shall,
Within sixty days after the expiration of two years from the
sale, cause to be recorded such certificate of sale, with his
oath that the same has not been recorded, and thereupon the
said corporation or its assignees shall acquire an absolute title
to the same in fee. The said certificate may be acknowledged
or proved and recorded in the same manner that deeds are
recorded, and the said certificate, or the record thereof, or a
copy of said record duly authenticated, shall in all courts and
places be presumptive evidence of the facts therein stated and
of the regularity and correctness of such sale and of all pro-
ceedings prior thereto. .

2. All acts and parts of acts so far as they are in con.
flict with this act are hereby repealed.

3. This act shall be in force on and after the first day of
April, one thousand eight hundred and eighty.