CHAPTER 657

An Act to amend and reenact § 14-181, as amended, of the Code of Vir-
ginia, relating to compensation of attorneys appointed to defend poor
persons.

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Be it enacted by the Gencral Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 14-181, as amended, of the Code of Virginia, be amended and
reenacted as follows: .

§ 14-181. When a judge of the circuit court of a county or city or
a corporation or hustings court of a city appoints an attorney to defend
a poor person charged with an offense that may be punishable by death,
or by confinement in the penitentiary for a period of more than ten years,
he may direct that a sum of money not to exceed * fifty dollars shall be
paid out by the Commonwealth to the attorney so appointed to defend
such person as compensation for such defense, and when such person
is charged with the commission of a felony other than those mentioned
the court may in its discretion direct the payment of a sum not to
exceed * twenty dollars payable as aforesaid. When such direction 1s
entered upon the order book of the court, the Commonwealth shall provide
for the payment out of its treasury of the sum of money so specified. If
the defendant is convicted, the amount allowed by the court to the attorney
appointed to defend him shall be taxed against the defendant as a part
of the costs of the prosecution, and if collected, the same shall be paid to
the Commonwealth.