Preliminary.

Complaint.--If a crime has been committed, the sufferer, or any one else,
may appear before the justice of the peace and make complaint, under oath,
specifying the nature of the crime, the time of its commission, and the
name of the person believed to have perpetrated it, and requesting that he
be apprehended for trial.

Warrant.--If upon careful examination of the complainant and any witnesses
whom he may bring, it appears that the offense has probably been
committed, the justice issues a warrant, reciting the substance of the
complaint, and commanding an officer to arrest the accused and produce him
for trial.

Return.--The officer arrests the accused, brings him before the justice,
and makes a return of the warrant. The return is a statement on the back
of the warrant telling how its commands have been executed. (See p. 283)

Bail.--The accused is entitled to a speedy trial. But if for good cause it
seems best to postpone it, the accused may be released from custody upon
giving sufficient bail for his appearance at the time fixed for trial. If
he cannot furnish bail, he is committed to jail or left in charge of the
officer.

Subpoena.--One good reason for postponing a trial is to enable the parties
to secure witnesses. To this end, the justice issues subpoenas. But in
this case the witnesses must come without the tender of the fee.

_The Trial._