Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1850-05-17
The Law against Small sstes.

The following important sections in relation
to small notes are contained in the new act reg
uating Banks, which became law on the 10th
of April, and goes into effect on the 2lst Of
August next:
Section 48. That from and after the twenty
first day of August 1850, it shall not be lawful
for any person or persons, corporation or body
corporate, directly or indirectly, TO issue, pay
out or cause to be issued, paid out, passed,
exchanged, circulated or transferred, any bank
note, note, bill, certificate, or any acknowledge
ment of Indebtedness whatsoever, purporting 10
be bank note, or of the nature, character or
appearance of a bank note, or calculated for
circulation as bank note, issued, or purporting
to be issued by any bank or incorporated com
pany, or association of persons, not located in
Pennsylvania, of less denomination than five
dollars every violation Of the provisions Of this
section by any corporation or body corporate,
shall subject such corporation or body corporate
to the payment of five hundred dollars and any
violation of the provisions Of this section by any
public officer holding any Office appointment
Of honor or profit under the constitution and
laws of this state shall subject such officer to
the payment of one hundred dollars and any
violation Of this section by any other person,
not being a public officer, shall subject such
person to the payment of twenty-five dollars,
one half Of which, in each case above mention
.
to the county in which the suit is brought, and
may be sued for and recovered as debts of like
amount are now by law recoverable in any ac-
ton Of debt, in the name Of the Conmonwe ca lth
of Pennsylvania, as well for the use OF the pro-
per county as for the person suing.
Section 49. That in addition TO the cigil pen
aties imposed for violation of the provisions
of the last preceding section, every person who
shall violate the provisions Of that section shall
be taken and deemed TO have committed mis-
demeanor, and shall, upon conviction thereof in
any criminal court in this commonwealth. be
fined in any sum not less than one dollar, and
not more than hundred dollars and the
several courts OF quarter sessions shall in their
charges to the grand jury call their attention 10
this subject; and it shall be the duty Of the sew
eral grand )uries 10 make presentInent of anv
person within their respective counties, who
may be guilty of violation Of the provisions of
the last preceding section; and il shall be the
duty of the several coDstables and other peace
officers within this commonwealth, TO make in
formation against any person guilty of such yio-
lation, and they shall be sworn so TO do Provi-
ded, That 1t shall be necessary, in any civil suit
or criminal prosecution under this section, and
the last preceding section, 10 produce In evil
dence, the charter OF any bank, or articles Of
association OF any company, not located in this
state.
If the provisions OF this bill can be enforced,
we may be freed from the small notes Of other
states now in circulation. Peace officers here
after, il would seem from the last section, in
stead Of swearing to support the Constitution
and Laws, must swear 10 the support of those
documents in general and Lsird's bank bill in
particular.