Chap. 175.—An ACT to establish a» new Judicial Circuit, to be known
as the Seventeenth, and to alter the First and Eighth Circuits.

- Approved March 16, 1875

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That
the counties of Accomac and Northampton shall constittite
a new judicial circuit to be known as the seventeenth : pro-
vided, that the judge of the said circuit shall not be paid a
salary exceeding fifteen hundred dollars.

"That the counties of Elizabeth City, York, Warwick,
ere City, and city of Williamsburg, and the counties of
New Kent, Charles City, and Surry shall constitute the
eighth circuit.

3. That the counties of Princess Anne, Norfolk, Nanse-
mond, Southampton, and Isle of Wight, and the cities of
Norfolk and Portsmouth shall constitute the first circuit.

4. All acts and parts of acts inconsistent with this act are
hereby repealed, and this act shall be in force from its passage.

Chap 176.—An ACT to Protect Sheep in the County of Augusta
Appruved March 20, 1875.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia,
That it shall be the duty of the assessors for the county of
gust: ake annually, at the time isting the taxa
Augusta to take annually, at the t of listing the taxable
property therein, a list of all dogs, showing whether male
or female, with the name of the owner or person in whose
possession the same are found, upon the oath or affirmation
of the owner or housekeeper, or head of the family, with
whom or on whose lot or plantation any dog or dogs may
be found, as to the number of dogs such person may own or
have, or as may be on his lot, plantation or premises, whether
owned by him (or her) or not, and shall return such list |
dogs to the clerk’s office of said county at the time tvhtn I
returns his list of taxable property, under the like fine
penalties, and forfeitures as are now incurred by him fc
neglect of any of similar duties, under existing laws, as t
his duties in listing and returning lists of taxable property

2. That every dog staying about any house shail’ b
deemed sufficient evidence of ownership to authorize th
assessor to return the person inhabiting said house as th
owner of such dog; and every dog not returned, or if re
turned and the tax be not paid thereon, shall be deemed t
have no owner, and may be lawfully killed by any perso:
seeing him run at large.

3. Upon complaint of any person to a justice of tb
peace, that there is a dog staying about the premises of an!
person that is not listed, the justice shall summon such per
son and the assessor to appear before him, who shall hea
and decide the case; and if the complaint be found to b
true, the assessor shall thereupon list said dog; and if th
owner fail to pay the tax thereon and the costs thereby in
curred within ten days thereafter, he shall be fined two dol
Jars and costs—one-half of said fine to go to the informer
In any case where the owner of a dog is delinquent in the
payment of the tax on the same, or any fine arising from
a non-compliance with this act, it shall be the duty of the
constable of the district to kill said dog, for which he shall
receive a fee of one dollar from the party delinquent, and to
that end the constable shall obtain a list from the county
treasurer of all the delinquents in his district, and shall,
within thirty days discharge his duty in this behalf, and on
failure so to do, he shall be fined by the justices of his dis-
trict one dollar for cach dog, and be responsible for any dam-
age they may do in consequence of his neglect. |

4. That when said assessors shall have ascertained the
number of dogs, they shall assess a license tax of one dollar
per head on all male dogs, and on every slut or female dog,
five dollars shall be assessed, and said sums so assessed shall
be collected, or caused to be collected, and accounted for by
the county treasurer as county levies are by law directed to:
be collected and accounted for ;’ and the treasurer shall keep
a separate account of the fund arising from said tax, and the
fines and penalties resulting from the execution of this act.
The said fund shall be, and is hereby appropriated for re-
munerating the inhabitants of said county for any loss they
may sustain from dogs killing or crippling their sheep, and
for paying any expense in enforcing this act not otherwise

rovided for, and for paying such premiums as may be here-
inafterwards provided; and the residue, if eny, shall Qe ap-
plied to county expenses.

5. That it shall be the duty of any justice of the peace in
said county, on an application of the owner of sheep, or his
agent, which have been killed or severely wounded by dogs,
since the passage of this act, to issue a summons to three
liscreet housekeepers, who, being legally sworn, shall go
orthwith on the premises where such sheep may be, and
‘Xamine into the facts and justice of the claim and appraise
he amount of damages sustained by the owner, and return
.n accurate statement of the same under their hands toa
ustice; who, if he approve the return, shall so endorse the
ame, but if not, shall endorse his disapproval and his rea-
ons for the same, and forward all the papers to the clerk of
aid county, who shall receive the same and present them to
the board of supervisors of said county at their next mecting.
.6. The board of supervisors shall allow out of the fund
created by this act such premiums for killing foxes, wolves,
wild cats, and panthers as, in their judgment, they shall
leem best to further the objects of this act; they are em-
powered to make such changes in the premiums, and make
such regulations for establishing rights thereto and for
guarding against frauds on the treasury as experience may
suggest; and also for identifying the dogs which are exempt
and those on which the tax has been paid. They shall also
have discretion to order the payment in whole, or in part,
the claims for damages to sheep, subject to the amount of
funds collected under this act, and the legal and equitable
right of each application. It shall be the duty of the at-
torney for the commonwealth to be present and represent
the interests of the county when these claims are decided.

7. All payments made by the treasurer out of funds created
by this act shall be on the order of the board of supervisors,
certified by the county clerk.

8. The treasurer shall, annually, at the yearly mecting of
the board of supervisors, make a settlement with said board
of his management of this fund, which settlement shall be
recorded by the clerk.

9. The fees of officers employed in the execution of this
act shall be similar to those received for like services; and
where none are prescribed by law, the board of supervisors
shall make such proper compensation; all of which shall be
paid out of the aforesaid fund.

10. This act shall not effect sections five and six of chapter
one hundred and two of the Code of eighteen hundred and
seventy-three.

11. This act shall be in force from the first day of May,
eighteen hundred and seventy-five.