jurisdiction in cases of murder, treason, robbery, burglary, arson, and other high crimes. The Court of Quarter Sessions (having four sessions a year) has jurisdiction in cases of petty crimes, such as theft, assault and battery, etc. The Orphans' Court settles the estates of deceased persons and controls the estates of minors. Some counties having two or more judges, elect a separate judge for the Orphans' Court.

The chief duty of a judge learned in the law is to preside at the trial of cases, to conduct the trial impartially, to hear the evidence, to decide points of law raised in the progress of the trial, and to charge the jury with instructions for making up a verdict. Other duties are the issuing of various writs,—of habeas corpus, of mandamus, of injunction, of quo warranto,-the staying of executions, the granting of petitions, the issuing of naturalization papers, the removal of certain officials, the chartering of corporations not for profit, such as, secret societies, hospitals, cemeteries, etc.

Judges not learned in the law, or associate judges, have the same powers that the president judge has, but they seldom exercise any but a few of them. They are mainly advisory members on the bench. They have in a few instances undertaken to hold court, and have even been known to charge juries in opposition to the president judge. They exercise an equal voice in granting licenses and in establishing new roads, etc. They administer oaths, stay writs of execution, issue writs of habeas corpus, etc. As they reside in the county, their services are a convenience in the absence of the president judge.

The term of office of judges learned in the law is ten years; and that of the associates, five years. The salary of the former is $4,000, except in Philadelphia ($7,000),

Allegheny ($5,000), and Dauphin and Westmoreland ($5,000); that of the latter $5 a day when actually engaged. The Jury. The jury, though really a part of the court, is so important a factor in the government of a county, that it deserves to be treated as of equal rank with a county office. It is distinctively an English institution, though something like the jury system is found in other nations. The principle from which trial by jury has come, is found in the Magna Charta, given to the English people by King John in 1215; it is as follows: "No freeman shall be taken or imprisoned, or disseized, or outlawed, or exiled, or anyways destroyed; nor will we go upon him, nor will we send upon him, unless by the lawful judgment of his peers, or by the law of the land." However, as a mere custom, the jury system is so old in England that "the memory of man runneth not to the contrary."

There are three kinds of juries-the Grand Jury, the Petit Jury and the Traverse Jury. Twenty-four men are summoned for the Grand Jury, one of whom is excused to avoid ties. The court appoints one of them as foreman. The number of Petit and Traverse Jurors is determined. by the court; it consists usually of from thirty-six to sixty each; in smaller counties the same panel is used for both. From this number twelve are drawn to try each case as it comes before the court.

The Grand Jury decides what criminal cases shall be brought before the court. It hears the evidence only for the Commonwealth, that is, the evidence against the accused. If a case is made out against him, the foreman endorses the bill of indictment, which endorsement makes it a "true bill." Only one witness against the accused is allowed to be before the Grand Jury at one time, and

no one but the district attorney is allowed to be present during its sessions. The Grand Jury inspects annually all public buildings of the county-its prison, poor-house, court-house, etc., and approves of the location of county bridges.

The Petit Jury, which tries criminal cases, after listening to the evidence, the pleas of the attorneys, and the charge of the judge, must retire to a room and make up their verdict without talking to anyone but the judge. Their verdict must be unanimous, whether it is "Guilty" or "Not Guilty;" and in misdemeanor cases and cases of larceny of goods not amounting in value to ten dollars, where the verdit is "Not Guilty," they have power to put the costs on the prosecutor or the defendant or the county, or apportion them between prosecutor and defendant. If they cannot agree, there has to be a new trial. In civil cases, the trial by the Traverse Jury is very much the same. The verdict of the jury is either For the Plaintiff" or "" For the Defendant." In case there is any damage, the jury also fixes the amount, which constitutes a part of the verdict. Jurymen get $2.00 a day.

The Sheriff. The chief officer of the county is the sheriff. He is the executive power in the county. To him we look for the maintenance of the peace. To that end he has power to make arrests; but he exercises it chiefly when ordered by the court. He keeps criminals in the county jail until their trial, and afterwards, if they are convicted and sentenced to the county jail. If sentenced to the penitentiary, they are conducted there by him. If sentenced to be hanged, they are hanged by him. In case of riot or mob, he may arrest without a warrant. If on such occasions he needs assistance, he may call on the citizens of the county to help him, and

they constitute what is called a posse comitatus. Should he still not be able to quell the disturbance, he may call on the Governor of the State.

Other duties of the sheriff are to serve the writs (orders) of the judges, to sell property for debt when judgment has been given by the court and an execution (order to sell) has been issued by it. He also sells the property of delinquent taxpayers. He has charge of the jury-wheel, assists in drawing the juries, and notifies jurors when to appear in court. Notices of general elections are given by him in the papers and on handbills.

He cannot succeed himself in office. He is paid by fees and usually has the best paying office in the county. Having large sums of money in his keeping, he is under heavy bonds, varying from $8,000 to $60,000, according to the population of the county.

He must appoint a deputy with full power to act in the absence of the sheriff. If a vacancy occurs in the office of sheriff, the coroner performs the duties until the Governor appoints another.

The Prothonotary. The prothonotary is the clerk of the civil court-common pleas-and as such he keeps a full record of every case that passes through that court. He takes bail in civil cases and has charge of the seal of the court and affixes it to all papers that require it. He administers the oaths and affirmations to the jurors and to the witnesses, as well as to others who must be sworn in the conduct of his business. In his office is found the record of judgments and mechanics' liens, which is open to all who want to examine it; also the record of naturalizations and that of city, county, State and National elections. Of the election record, except that of the city, he makes a copy and sends it to the office of the Secretary

of the Commonwealth at Harrisburg, whence a commission from the Governor is issued to the persons elected. He also keeps the register of physicians.

He can be his own successor in office. His salary consists of fees; but if these amount to more than $2,000 a year, he must pay half the excess into the county treasury.

The Clerk of the Courts.-The clerk of the courts is the clerk of the criminal courts-oyer and terminer and quarter sessions. He is present at the sessions and keeps a record of the proceedings. He calls up and swears the jurors and the witnesses of these courts. As under the law the court of quarter sessions grants liquor licenses, the clerk of the courts has charge of all business pertaining to licenses. The records of township and borough elections are kept in this office, and certificates of election are issued by it to the candidates that were elected, except to the justices and aldermen, who are commissioned by the Governor.

The salary consists of fees, and in some counties this office is combined with the prothonotary's, and one person is elected to perform the duties of both.

The Clerk of the Orphans' Court.-The duties of this clerk can be understood from his title. In most counties the office is joined either to the clerk of the courts or to the register of wills. The salary likewise consists of fees.

The Register of Wills.-The register of wills records and keeps the wills of deceased persons. A will must be proven to have been the lawful act of the person who is claimed to have made it. This official proof must be made before the register of wills; it is called a probate; and if a dispute arises, being a judicial officer, the register may hear and decide the case, from which decision an ap