In every case, matter or proceeding before a county court, council, justice or inferior tribunal, in which a writ of certiorari would lie according to the provisions of the preceding section, the majority of the commissioners composing a court, or the justice or the officer or officers presiding over such council or other inferior tribunal, shall, upon request of either party in a civil case, matter or proceeding, or the defendant in a criminal case, matter or proceeding, certify the evidence, if any, which may have been heard, and sign bills of exceptions, or certificates as provided in section thirty-six, article six, chapter fifty-six of this code, setting forth any rulings or orders which may not otherwise appear of record. Such certificate of evidence and bills of exceptions or certificates shall be part of the record and as such be removed and returned to the circuit court. The clerk upon receiving such record shall file the same and docket the case, in the same manner that other cases are docketed. Upon the hearing, such circuit court shall, in addition to determining such questions as might have been determined upon a certiorari as the law heretofore was, review such judgment, order or proceeding, of the county court, council, justice or other inferior tribunal upon the merits, determine all questions arising on the law and evidence, and render such judgment or make such order upon the whole matter as law and justice may require. But all such cases removed as aforesaid from before a justice to the circuit court, wherein the amount in controversy is more than $15, and in which the judgment of the justice is set aside, shall be retained in such court and disposed of as if originally brought therein.