Section 2
SEC. 2. When the accused is brought before the justice of the peace, it shall be his duty to inform the accused of the charge, give him an opportunity to examine the complaint and the affidavits, if any, of all other witnesses in support thereof. The justice of the peace shall thereupon demand of the accused whether he pleads guilty or not guilty to the charge. If he should plead guilty then it shall be the duty of the justice of the peace to order that the accused be remanded to jail for safekeeping, to await the action of the judge or Court of First Instance, or give bail in an amount to be fixed by the justice of the peace, with sufficient sureties, for his appearance before the judge or Court of First Instance, if the case be a bailable one as provided in General Order Number Fifty-eight of the Military Governor, series of nineteen hundred. If the accused shall deny his guilt, then it shall be the duty of the justice of the peace to make preliminary investigation of the charge as speedily as may be consistent with right and justice, but in any event he, must begin such investigation within three days of the time the accused was brought before him, unless the accused or complainant shall ask for delay in order that witnesses may be obtained, or for other good and sufficient reason, in which event a continuance for a reasonable time may be allowed. All witnesses, including the complainant, shall be examined under oath and the evidence of each shall be taken clown in writing and signed by the witnesses so testifying. The witnesses offered on behalf of the Government or complainant shall be first examined and then those offered on behalf of the accused, who shall he present at every stage of the proceeding. The investigation shall be public and the witnesses shall be examined in the presence of the accused, who shall have a right, either in person or by counsel, to cross-examine them if he so desires. The witnesses shall be examined separate and apart from each other if either party demands it. Upon conclusion of the evidence of the other witnesses, the accused may testify under oath, if he so desires, in which case he may he cross-examined as any other witness. His evidence shall be reduced to writing and signed by him. If he refuses to sign the same, that fact shall be certified by the justice of the peace with the reason for such refusal given by the accused. But tile accused shall not be compelled to testify against his wishes and the justice of the peace shall so inform the accused before he begins his evidence. In the event the accused declines to testify as a witness, that fact shall not be considered as evidence against him. Upon the conclusion of the preliminary investigation, if the justice of the peace is of the opinion that there is reasonable cause to believe that an offense has been committed and that the accused is guilty thereof, he shall so declare and shall adjudge that the accused be remanded to jail for safekeeping to await the action of the judge or Court of First Instance, unless lie give bail for his appearance if the case be bailable, as provided in General Order Number Fifty-eight, On the other hand, if the justice of the peace be of the opinion that no crime has been committed, or that there is no reasonable ground to believe the accused guilty thereof, the justice of the peace shall order the discharge of the accused. Such discharge, however, shall not operate as a final acquittal of the accused, but he may be again arrested and prosecuted for the same offense.