Chap. 529.—An ACT to amend and re-enact sections 3955 and 3956 of the Code
of Virginia, as amended by an act approved February 17, 1898, and by an act
approved February 9, 1900, and by an act approved February 16, 1901, and
section 3958 of the Code of Virginia, in relation to process for the arrest of
persons charged with crime.

Approved December 31, 1903.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That sections
thirty-nine hundred and fifty-five and thirty-nine hundred and fifty-six
of the Code of Virginia, as amended by an act approved February seven-
teenth, eighteen hundred and ninety-eight, and by an act approved Feb-
ruary ninth, nineteen hundred, and by an act approved February six-
teenth, nineteen hundred and one, and section thirty-nine hundred and
fifty-eight of the Code of Virginia, in relation to process for the arrest
of persons charged with crime, be amended and re-enacted so as to read
as follows:

§ 3955. Who may issue process of arrest.—A judge of a circuit or cor-
poration court, in vacation as well as in term, or a justice, may issue pro-
cess for the arrest of a person charged with an offense.

§ 3956. When it may issue; what to recite and require——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 by fine has been committed, he
may, without formal complaint, issue a summons for witnesses, and shall
examine such witnesses; and if he sees 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 re-
quire the officer to whom it is directed to summon such witnesses as shall
be therein named to appear and give evidence on the examination: pro-
vided, 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: and
provided, further, in cities having a police justice all such warrants shall
Tequire the accused to be arrested and brought before such police justice.

Nothing contained in this section shall impair the provisions of the
charter of any city or town which may provide for the issuance of pro-
cess for the arrest of persons charged with offenses.

§ 3958. Before whom he shall be brought.—An officer arresting a per-
son under a warrant for an offense shall bring such person before and
return such warrant to a justice of the county or corporation in which
the warrant issued, unless such person be let to bail, as hereinafter men-
tioned, or it be otherwise provided. In cities having a police justice the

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officer making the arrest shall bring the accused before and return such
warrant to such police justice.

2. This act shall be in force on and after February first, nineteen
hundred and four.