Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-10-02

Sec. 1853. And be it further enacted, That, ,
II any person shall rip, cut, tear, burn, or
otherwise injure, any valise, portmanteau. or
| other bag, used or designed to be used by any
person acting under the authority of the Post
master General, or any person in whom his
powers are vested, In a conveyance of any
mail, letter, packet or newspaper, or pampb-
let, or shall draw or break any staple, or
loosen any part of any lock, chain, or strap,
attached to or belonging to any such valise,
portmanteau, or bag, with an intent to rob or
steal any mail, letter, packet, newspaper, or
pamphlet. or to render either of the same in
secure, every such offender, upon conviction.
shall, for every such offence, pay a sum not
| less than one hundred dollars nor exceeding
five hundred dollars, or be imprisoned not less
than one year nor exceeding three years, at the
discretion OF the court before whom such con-
viction is had See. 3d. act of 1925.
Sec. 1863. Be 1t further enacted, That if
any person employed in any department of the
post ONCE, shall Improperly detain, delay,
emoezzie, or destroy any newspaper, or shall
permit any other person to do the like, or shal
open or permit any other TO open any mail or
packet OF newspapers not directed to the Office
Wnere he Is employed, such offender shall, on
conviction thereof forfeit a sum not exceeding
hity dollars for every such offence. And if
any other person shall open any mail or packet
OF newspapers, or shall embezzle or destroy
the same, not being directed to such person,
Or not being authorized to receive or omen the
same, such offender shall, on conviction there
OF, pay sum not exceeding twenty dollars for
every such offence. And if any person shall
take or steal any packet, bag, or mail of news
papers from or out of any post Office, or from
any person having custody thereof, such per-
son shall, on conviction, be imprisoned not ex-
ceedlng three months for such offence, to be
Kept at hard labor during the period of such
| imprisonment. If any person shall enclose or
| conceal letter or other thing, or any memo
randum In writing, in newspaper, pamphlet,
or magazine, OF In any package cf newspa-
pers, pamphlets, or magazines, or make any
writing or memorandum thereon, which he
! shall have delivered into any post Office. or to
| any person for that purpose, in order that the
| same may be carried by post free of letter
postage, he shall forfeit the sum of five dollars
| tor every such offence; and the letter, news
paper, package, memorandum or other thing
shall not be delivered to the person to whom it
! Is directed until the amount of single letter
postage Is paid for each article of which the
package is composed. Sec. 80, act of 1925
Sec. l7O. Ana be 1t further enacted, That
every person who, from and after the passage
OF this act, shall procure and advise, or assist
In the doing or perpetration of any of the acts
or crimes by this act forbidden. shall be SUBJ
Ject to the same penalties and punishments as
the persons are subject to who shall actually
do or perpetrate any of the said acts or crimes
according to the provisions of this act. Sec.
"a, act Of 1925.
Sec III. And be 1T further enacted, That
every person who shall be imprisoned, by a
judgment of court, under and by virtue Of the
twenty first, twenty second, twenty third, or
twenty fourth sections of this act, shall be
Kept at hard labor during the period of such
imprisonment. Sec. rs, act of 1925.
See. l12. Amd be 1T further enacted, That
all pecuniary penalties and forfeitures, In
Cured under this act, shall be one Ia II for the
use OF the person or persons intoruc;rg and
prosecuting for the same, and the other half to
the use OF the United States, and shall be paid
over to the Postmaster General, and accounted
tor by him as other moneys of the Department.
See. 80, act of 1925.
Sec. 173. Anu be IL further eRacteS, That
If any person shall be accessory after the fact,
to the offence of stealing or taking the mail of
the United States, or of stealing or taking any
letter or packet, or enclosure in any letter or
packet sent or to be sent in the mail of the
United States, from any post Office in the Uni
ted States, or from tho mail Of the United
states, by any person or persons whatever,
every person SO offending as accessory, shall,
on conviction thereof, pay a fine not exceed
Ing one thousand dollars, and be imprisoned
for term not exceeding five years; and such
victed, and punished in the district in which
his offence was committed, though the princi-
pal offence may havo been committed in an
other district, and before the trial of the prin-
. pal offender; Provided, Such principal Of
fender has fed from justice, or cannot be ar
rested to be put upon his trial. Sec. 3S, act
of 1885.
Sec. l74. and be 1t further enacted, That
all causes Of action arising under this act, NAV
be sued, and all offenders against this act may
be prosecuted, before the justices of the peace,
magistrates, or other judicial courts of the sew
eral otates, and OF the several Territories of
the United States, they having competent ju-
rlsdictlon, by the laws Of such States or Terri
tories, to the trial of claims and demands of az
great value, and of the prosecutions, where
the punlshments are of as great extent; and
such justices, magistrates, or judiciary, shall
take cognlzance thereof, and proceed to judg-
ment, and execution, as in other cases. Sec.
81, act of 1925.
Sec. l75. and be 1t further enacted, That,
In all suits or causes arising under this act the
court shall proceed to trial, and render judg-
ment the first term after such suit shall be
commenced: PrOUtded, aiacQys, That when
ever service Of the process shall not have been
made twenty days, at least, previous to the
return day OF such term, the defendant shall
be entitled to one continuance, if the court, on
the statement Of such defendant, shall Judge
II expedient: Proctded also, That, if the de-
fendant in such suits shall make affidavit that
he has a claim against the General Post Office,
not allowed by the Postmaster General, al
though submitted to him conformably to the
regulations Of the Post Office, and shall specify
such claim in the affidavit, and that he could
not be prepared for the trial at such term, for
want Of evidence, the court, in such case, be-
ing satisfied in those respects, may grant .
continuance until the next succeeding term;
and the Postmaster General shall be author
lied to discharge from imprisonment any per-
son confined in Jail, on any judgment in q
civil case, obtained in behalf Of the Depart
ment: Providsd, It be made to appear that
the defendant has no property Of any descrip
ton And prorfded, That such release shall
not bar subsequent execution against the
property of the defendant Sec. 80, act Of