Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1858-06-16
The Law Concerning Estrays.

We publish the following for the
benefit of farmers and others in this
county, who will sometimes find it con
venient to refer to. 1t is not probable
that half of the people who "arrest''
stray cattle and horses, know their du-
| ty IN regard to the requirements of the
law:
l. No person shall take up any
stray, except horses and mules, unless
such person shall be at the time resi-
dent Of the same town wherein such
stray shall be found upon the lands
owned or occupied by the finder.
5 2. Any person taking up stray
shall, within seven days thereafter, no
tify the owner thereof, if to him known.
and request such owner to pay all rea-
sonable charges, and take such stray
away
s 8. If the owner of any stray be un-
known, the finder shall, within ten DAYS
after taking up the same, file notice
thereof with the town clerk of the town.
and if the stray or strays so taken up
are Of the value of less than five dollars,
he shall also post up notices of the tax
ing up of such stray, in two or more
public places in said town; but if the
stray or strays so taken up are of the
value of more than five dollars, he shall
cause such notice to be published in
some newspaper printed in the county,
for four weeks successfully, if one be
printed therein; if there be none. then
by posting up written notices in three
Of the most public places in the county;
all of said notices shall contain brief
description of the stray, describing the
same by giving marks, natural or arti-
fclal, as near as possible, the name and
residence of the finder, and as near as
may be the time at which the same was
taken up; the said town clerk shall
transmit copy Of such notice to the
clerk of the county board Of supervi-
sors.
5 4. Every finder Of stray or strays,
which, when taken up are of the value
OF ten dollars or more, shall, within one
month after taking up the same, pro-
cure 81 appraisal thereof by Justice
of the Peace Of his town, which APP
praisal shall be certified to by said JUS
tice, and within the time before men
toned, filed in the office of the town
clerk of said town; and he shall pay to
such justice fifty cents for such apprais-
al and certificate, and six cents for ev-
cry mile necessarily travelled in such
service.
s 5. Ii the owner or person entitled
to the possession of any stray shall ap-
pear at any time within one year after
the notice is filed with the town clerk
as aforesaid, and make out his right
thereto, he shall have such stray re-
stored to him, upon paying all lawful
charges which have been incurred in
relation to the same.
Sc. If the owner and the finder of
any stray cannot agree upon the amount
of such charges, or for the use Of such
stray, either party may make applica-
ton to any justice of the peace Of the
town where such stray was taken up,
to settle the same, and the party max
ing application shall give notice thereof
to the other party, and if any amount
shall be found due to the finder by the
said justice, over the value Of the use
of such stray, the same shall be lien on
such stray until paid by the owner, and
the costs Of such adjudication shall
abide in the decision of the Justice.
81. If the owner or person entitled
to the possession Of any stray shall not
appear and make out his title thereto,
and pay the charges thereon within one
year from the time the notice is filed
with the town clerk, as aforesaid, and
if such stray shall not have been ap-
praised at a greater value than ten dol
lars, the finder shall have perfect title
to the same; but if the appraised value
of such stray shall have been adjudged
to be more than ten dollars, as provid-
ed in the fourth section Of this chapter,
such stray shall be sold at the request
Of the finder, by any constable of the
town, at public auction upon first giving
public notice thereof, in writing, by
posting up the same in three of the
most public places in such town, at
least ten days before such sale: and
after deducting all lawful charges Of
the finder as aforesaid, and the fees Of
the constable, which shall be the same
as upon sale on an execution, one-haif
of the remaining proceeds OF such sale
shall be deposited in the treasury Of the
town, and be disposed Of in such man
ner as the town may direct, and the
other half shall belong to the finder.
s 8. If any person shall, without the
consent of the finder, take away any
stray taken up pursuant to the provis-
ions Of this chapter, without first pay
ing all the lawful charges incurred in
relation to the same, he shall be liable
to the finder for the value of such stray.
s g. If the finder of any stray shall
neglect to cause the same to be adver-
tised, or a notice thereof to be posted
up, or if he shall neglect to procure the
appraisal of any stray which shall be
Of ten dollars or more, or if he shall
neglect to perform any of the duties
required of him in this chapter, he shall
be precluded from requiring any right
of property in such stray, by the pro-
90 +IIc oh ~.