Issue, contents, and service of summons

(1) The magistrate may issue a summons although there is not any complaint or information in writing or upon oath. (2) The summons shall be directed to the accused person, and shall re-quire him to appear at a certain time and place to be therein mentioned. (3) The summons shall not be signed in blank. (4) The summons may be served by a bailiff of a summary jurisdiction court, or a police officer upon the accused person, either by delivering it to him personally or, if he cannot with the exercise of reasonable diligence be encountered, by leaving it with some person for him at his last or most usual place of abode. (5) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, in any proceedings in a summary jurisdiction court wherein it becomes necessary to prove the service of any summons, notice, order or other process whatever issued hereunder and served by a bailiff or police officer, a return of service purporting to be signed by a bailiff or police officer shall be received as prima facie evidence of the facts stated in the return without proof of the signature or the official character of the bailiff or police officer.