Justice courts shall have jurisdiction of all cases provided for in this chapter, where the value of the property described in the petition does not exceed the amount provided in Section 9-11-9, and in all cases where the defendant is a nonresident, or is not served with process, the provisions of the section of the code in relation to attachments before justice court judges shall apply, and notice shall be given to the defendant, and the case tried as provided in that section of the code. When the case shall be one against unknown owners, the justice court judge shall fix the trial for a date not earlier than one (1) month from the beginning of the suit, and notices shall be posted for three (3) consecutive weeks in the county of the justice court judge, addressed to all persons having or claiming any interest in the property described in the petition, and describing the property in such notices, requiring them to appear before the justice court judge on the date fixed for trial to contest the claim of the petitioner, which notices shall be posted in the public places in the county likely to be seen, which shall be in lieu of a publication thereof in a newspaper.
