1885_private laws_34_20
CHAPTER 38 An act to repeal the general laws of the State in regard to towns and cities so far as the town of Kinston, in the county of Lenoir, is concerned, inconsistent with this act; to repeal all special laws and charters in relation thereto, and to re-charter the said town. The General Assembly of North Carolina do enact:
That the court of the mayor of the said town of Kinston is hereby constituted an inferior court, and as such shall, in all criminal cases committed within the corporate limits of the town of Kinston, have all the powers, jurisdiction and authority of a justice of the peace, and also to hear and determine all causes of action which may arise upon the ordinances and regulations of the town ; to enforce penalties by issuing executions upon any adjudged violations thereof, and to execute the bylaws, ordinances, rules and regulations, made or passed by the board of commissioners of the town. The mayors court shall further be a special court within the corporate limits of the town to arrest and try all persons who may be charged with a misdemeanor for violating any by-law, ordinance, rule or regulation of the town, and if the accused be found guilty, he shall be fined at the discretion of the court or mayor, not exceeding the amount specified jn the by-law, ordinance, rule or regulation, so violated, or at the discretion of the mayor or court trying the same, such offender may be imprisoned not more than thirty days in the town lock-up, or in the common jail of the county of Lenoir. And that in all cases where a defendant may be adjudged to be imprisoned by the said court or mayor, it shall be competent for the said court or mayor to adjudge also that the said defendant work during the period of his confinement on the public streets, or other public works of said town. :