Santa Fe weekly gazette. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 185?-1859, 1858-12-18
CHAPTER XL.

An ACT TOR Me iferentt0n ana i'NhtSameW cI
Frauds IN Land Titles in California.
Be it enacted by The Senate and House of
Representatives. of The United States Of
America IN Congress assembled, That if any
person shall falsely make, order, forge or
counterfeit or cause or procure to be falsely
made, altered, forged, or counterfcitcd or
willingly aid and assist in the false making,
altering, forging, Or counterleting any petl-
ton, certificate, order, report, decree, conces-
sion, announcement, deed, patent, confirmation,
diseho, map, eSpediente, or part of an espedI-
elte, or any title-paper, Or evidence OF right,
title, or claim to lands, mines or minerals in
California, orany instrument OF writing what
ever in relation to lands or mines or minerals
in the State of California ; for the purpose Of
setting up or establishing against the united
States any claim, right, or title olauds, miuesS,
or minerals within the State Of California, Or
for the purpose OF enabling any person to set
up Or establish any such claim or if anyper-
son, for the purposes aforesaid, or either Of
them, shall utter or publish as true and genu.
inc, uny such false, forged, altered, or counter
fcited petition, cert e ate order, report, decree.
concession, announcement, deed, patent, con
frmation, diseho; may, espedente or part Of
an espedente, ttle-puper, evidence Of right,
title, or claim TO lands Or mines or minerals in
the State Of California or any instrument OF
writing whatever in relation to lands or mines
Or minerals in the State Of California, the
person SO offending shall be deemed and ad-
Judged guilty Of miSdemeauor aud, bcmg
thereof duly convicted, shall be sentenced 10
be imprisoned and kept at hard labor for Il
period not less than three years, and not more
than ten years, and shall be hued not exceed
Ing ten thousand dollars.
SEC. 9. Aad Lea further enacted, That if
any person shall make, Or cause Or procure to
be made, or shall willingly aid anu assist in
making any falsely dated petition, certificate,
order, report, decree, concession, denounce-
nent deed, patent, confirmation, dselo, map,
espediente or part Of an espcdente or any
titlc-paper, Or written evidence Of right, title,
or claim, under Mexican authority, to any
lands, mines or minerals in the State Of Cali
forniu, having false date, or falsely purport-
Ing to be made by any Mexican officer or uu-
thority prior to the seventh day Of July, A.
d. eighteen hundred and !orty.slx, for the
purpose ofSettiug up or establishing any claim
agplnst the United States to lands or, mines
or minerals within the State Of California, Or
of enabling any person TO set up or establish
any such claim or if any person shall sign
his name as governor, secretary or other pub
lie officer acting under Mexican authority, to
any instrument of writingf alsely purportiug to
be grant, concession, or announcement under
Mexican authority, and during its existence
in California, Of lands, mines or minerals, or
falsely purporting to be an informe, report,
record, confirmation, or other proceeding on
an application for grant, concession, or de-
nouncement under Mexican authority, during
its existence in California, of lands, mines or
minerals, the person so offending shall be
deemed andadjudged guilty Of amisdene inor;
'and, being thereof duly convicted shall be
sentenced to be imprisoned and kept at hard
labor for period not less than three years,
nor more than ten years, and shall be fined
not exceeding ten thousand dollars
SEC. 8. And be 1t further enacted, That il
any person, for the purpose Of setting up or
establishing any claim against the United
States to lands, mines or minerals within the
State Of California, shall present, or cause or
procure to ba presented, before any court,
Judge, commission, Or commissioner, or other
officer Of the United States, any false, forged,
altered, or couutcrlcited petition, certificate,