No proceeding to dispossess a tenant holding over, had before the District Court and removed by appeal to the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, shall by such Court be reversed or set aside for matter of form; and any case thus removed by appeal, if the proceeding thereunder shall be set aside or appear to be substantially defective, shall be proceeded within said Court in the same manner and to the same effect, upon the claim and complaint and merits, and upon evidence to be adduced therein as it was or might have been competent to said District Court to have proceeded therewith. P.L.L., 1860, §902 1888, §875 1915, §862 1927, §862 1930, §862 1938, §1143 1949, §746 1969, §9-32 1898, ch. 123, §862 1979, ch. 125 1986, ch. 345