The Mayor and City Council of Baltimore shall not be liable in any criminal case tried in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City for the appearance fees allowed by law to the attorney of a defendant who formally denies an allegation of fact in an indictment or criminal information. P.L.L., 1888, §198 1915, §342 1927, §342 1930, §342 1938, §440 1949, §271 1969, §22-50 1886, ch. 46 1898, ch. 123, §342 1986, ch. 345