Justices of the Peace have jurisdiction coëxtensive with the limits of their respective counties, over all causes arising on contract for the recovery of money only, when the sum claimed does not exceed one hundred dollars, and in actions for damages for injury to person or property, or for taking or detaining personal property, if the damages claimed do not exceed one hundred dollars; also in actions on undertakings or bonds, when the penalty or amount claimed does not exceed one hundred dollars; also in actions for the foreclosure of mortgages, or the enforcement of liens on personal property, when the debt secured does not exceed one hundred dollars; also in actions for damages for fraud and deceit in the sale, purchase, or exchange of personal property, when the damages claimed do not exceed one hundred dollars; also in actions of forcible entry and detainer; also in actions to try the right of possession to mining claims. They may also take and enter judgment on the confession of a defendant, or upon default for a failure to appear or answer.

CHAPTER II.

TERMS OF COURTS-WHEN AND WHERE HELD.

The Supreme Court holds one term in each year, at Olympia, commencing on the second Monday of July.

The District Court of the first judicial district, Hon. S. C. Wingard, judge, is held for the counties of Walla Walla and Columbia, at Walla Walla City, on the first Monday of May and third Monday of October; for the county of Yakima, at Yakima City, on the first Monday of October of each year; for the counties of Stevens and Whitman, at Colfax, on the first Monday of June of each year.

The District Court of the second judicial district, Hon. R. S. Green, judge, is held for the counties of Klickitat, Skamania and Clark, at Vancouver, on the third Monday of March and third Monday of November of each year; for the counties of Cowlitz, Wahkiakum and Pacific, at Kalama, on the first Monday in January and the fourth Monday in June; for the counties of Thurston, Lewis, Mason and Chehalis, at Olympia, on the first Monday in April and first Monday in December.

The District Court of the third judicial district, Hon. J. R. Lewis, C. J., judge, is held for the county of Pierce, at Steilacoom, on the first Monday of January and first Monday of August; for the counties of King, Kitsap and Snohomish, at Seattle, on the fourth Monday of January and third Monday of August; for the counties of Jefferson, Island, Whatcom, San Juan and Clallam, at Port Townsend, on the fourth Monday of February and fourth Monday of September.

In addition to the above terms of Court, prescribed by Act of the Legislative Assembly, power is given to the judges of each district to appoint, by rule from time to time, two special terms in each year, at which to transact all business, except trials by jury, and the hearing causes on their merits.

Terms of the Probate Courts are held at the county seat of each county on the fourth Mondays of January, April, July and October, of each year.

Justices' Courts are always open for the transaction of business.

CHAPTER III.

COMMENCEMENT OF SUITS-TIME ALLOWED TO

ANSWER.

Actions in the District Courts are commenced by filing the complaint with the clerk, and the issuing a summons thereon at any

time within one year of such filing. The defendant is required to answer the complaint as follows: if served within the county where the action is brought, twenty days; if served out of the county but in the district in which the action is brought, thirty days; in all other cases, sixty days. If the defendant fails to appear and answer according to the requirements of the summons, the plaintiff is entitled to have the default entered, and judgment for the amount specified in the summons, or for the relief prayed for in the complaint. The complaint and all subsequent proceedings in an action, except a demurrer, must be verified by the party, (his agent or attorney, in the county where the action is brought) to the effect that he believes it to be true. All common law forms of pleadings, and all distinctions between law and equity as to form, are abolished, and the code system adopted.

In Probate Court, most of the business can be commenced, preliminary orders granted, and writs issued by the judge in vacation. Orders or decrees for the sale of real estate, the settlement of estates, and discharge of executors, administrators, or guardians, and final orders and decrees generally, must be heard and decided in term time.

Actions are commenced in Justices' Courts by filing with the justice a complaint or account, verified by the party, his agent or attorney, to the effect that he believes it to be true, and the issuance of a summons or notice thereon. The summons or notice is returnable in not less than six, nor more than twenty days, from the filing the complaint.

CHAPTER IV.

PLACE OF TRIAL OF CIVIL ACTIONS.

Actions for the recovery of the possession of, or for the foreclosure of a mortgage on, or in any wise affecting the title to real

property, and all questions involving the right or title to personal property, or for the detention or injury to such property, shall be brought in the county in which the subject of the action or some part thereof is situated.

Actions for a penalty or forfeiture imposed by statute, or against public officers, shall be tried in the county or district where the cause of action or some part thereof arose.

Actions against corporations may be brought in any county where the corporation has an office for the transaction of business, or any person resides upon whom process against such corporation may be served. In all other cases the action shall be commenced and tried in the district embracing the county in which the defendants, or either of them reside, or may be served with process; or if none. of them reside in the Territory, the same may be tried in any district or county which the plaintiff may designate in his complaint.

CHAPTER V.

LIMITATION OF ACTIONS.

The period prescribed for the limitation of actions, from the time the cause of action accrues, is as follows:

For the recovery of real property, or the possession thereof, twenty years; upon a judgment or decree of any Court of the United States, or of any State or Territory within the United States, or upon a contract in writing or liability, express or implied, arising out of a written agreement, or for the rents and profits, or use and occupation of real estate, six years; for waste or trespass upon real property, or for taking, detaining, or injuring personal property, including an action for the recovery thereof, or for any other injury to the person or rights of another not hereinafter

enumerated; upon a contract or liability, express or implied, which is not in writing, and does not arise out of any written instrument; for relief upon the ground of fraud, (the cause of action in such case not to be deemed to have accrued until the discovery by the aggrieved party of the facts constituting the fraud) against a ministerial officer upon a liability incurred by the doing an act in his official capacity, or by the omission of an official duty, including the non-payment of money collected upon execution; upon a statute for a penalty or forfeiture, and for seduction aud breach of marriage contract, three years; for libel, slander, assault, assault and battery and false imprisonment, actions upon a statute for a forfeiture or penalty to the Territory, two years; against a sheriff or other officer, for the escape of a prisoner arrested or imprisoned on civil process, one year.

When the cause of action arises in another State or Territory, between a resident of that State or Territory and of this Territory, the foregoing limitations apply. When the cause of action arises in another State or Territory between non-residents of this Territory, and the same would be barred there by the lapse of time, it will be barred here. An action shall be deemed commenced as to each defendant when the complaint is filed.

CHAPTER VI.

ATTACHMENTS.

The plaintiff, at the time of issuing the summons, or at any time thereafter, and before judgment, may have the property of the defendant attached as security for the satisfaction of such judgment he may recover, whenever he or any one on his behalf shall make and file an affidavit that a cause of action exists against the de

as