Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-03-07
OFFnoIAL.
Law 5 OF THE UNITED STATES
Fusssd 1t tie SesonA esssion Of As Fbvty-ssoond

tLMA@AaAa
AN ACT to revise, consolidate. and amend the
statutes relating 20 the Post Once Department,
- esaeesa ~ y ~ , sesess e'd hose er heres y ~
senbied That there shall be established at the selt
OF government Of the United Stateh Of America,
Depsrment TO be known as the Post once Depart
sEo 90S. That sny'persOn who shall forcibly break
Into, or attemptto 70 oreek Into any post once, or
any building used In whole or in part post of
nee, with intent to commit therein larceny other
depredauons, shall, on conviction thereof, be fned
not more than one thousand dollars, and imprisoned
O. hard labor not more than nvo years. according 70
the cifuumstances and aggravation Of the case, at
the discretion ofthe court
" make, alter, forge, or counterfeit, or cause or
procure to be falsely made altered, forged, coun
terfeited, willingly aid or assist In the false max
bid proposal, guarantee, security; ocfal bond, pub
Lie record, adavit or other writing for the purpose
OF defrauding the United states; or shall utter OF
publish ~ true, or cause 70 be uttered or pubiahed
as true, any such false forged, altered or counter
ca poDS pu5c 4l PsCpTd adsy Or oer WI nr
for the purpose Of defranding the United States,
knowing the same TO be false, forged, altered, or
counterfeited; or shall transmit TO- or present at
or cause 70 procure 10 be transmitted to- present
Cd et. the ONCE OF any oiioer OF the United States,
od saCI hd IAioT S SoSrn nss
bond, public record, anidavit or other writing
knowing the same 70 be false, forged, altered, or
United States, every sach person sha be deemed
aud adjudged guilty OF felony, and being thereof
Cuy cOnVictod snail be sentenced 70 DC lInpIiB0ne0,
and kept AZ hard labor, for period not exceeding
ten yssrs, or be 1aed not exceeding one thousand
doilsra. or both Of said punishmsntl in the discre
szo 3S5 That II any offence shall be committed in
any place which has been, or shall hereafter be,
ceded 70 and under the Jurisdiction Of the United
states which oaeF5e Is not prohibited, or the pun
shmen thereof is hot specially provided for by any
law Of the United States, such offense shall, upon
conviction In any court of the United states having
coRnsance thereof, be II ,ble to, and receive the
same punishment as the laws OF the state In which
SiSsd pops for shs Ike oenss wS ,mmtteG .,shn
the Jurisdiction Of such state; aud no subsequent
appeal OF any such State law shall affect any prose-
cstion for such ofense in any Of the courts Of the
ssc 9Ss That If any postmaster, or other person
sS Dy ns sarS sns 70
receive any rate Of postage, gratuity, or re-
ward, other than is provided BY this act for the
o. he snail forfeit for every such onense, one nun
dred dollars
pertment Of the post ofiioe establ shmsnt of the
United states shall, wilfully and knowingly use or
caDse 70 be used, prepayment OF postage any post
ed. or which may hereafter be issued. by authority
OF any act OF Congress Of the Postmaster General
which has already been once used fer ike pur-
pose, or shall remove, or attempt TO remove, the
cancellng or defacing marks from any such postage
stamp or stamped envelope, or postal card with In
lime, or TO sell, oer TO sell, the same or shall
move from letIt other mail matter deposited In
q at .ns RSss S Ss ss % aed S 70
the second time for Ike purpose, TO sell,
OF offer 70 SELL the same, every such offender SHALL
and shall be imprisoned for not el than one year
ner more than three years
SEQ 99s That 4 any person not employed in any
department OF the post ONCE establishment OF tho
United states shall commit any OF the onenses de-
scribed In the preceding section, every such person
misdemeanor, and be punished by Imprisonment for
not less than six months nOrmore han one year,sr
more % than ave hundred dollars for each oiense, or
oy both such nnesand the discretion
SEC ess That the Postmaster General Of the Uni
ted states may empower, by q letter Of authorize
ton under his hand, to be ned among the records
o. MS Dspsrment any special agent or other ocer
for mailaDe matter transported in violation OF law
and that the agent or ocer so authorized may open
and search any car or vehicle passing, or lately be-
forehaylng passed. from any place ct which there
post ONCE Of the United States to any other place.
and any SG5 RscsaEe & OF psS e.. being or lately
store or house (0ther than dweing) used or bccu
pied by any common carrier or transportation COM
whenever said agent or Ccer has reason
to believe that maiable matter transported contra
ry to law, may the Elm be found |
sEc. sCj That the Postmaster General NAV. upon |
evidence satisfactory 70 him that any person, firm,
or corporation 10 engaged in conducting any fraud
tTbuton OF money, OF Of any real or personai pro-
perry, by lot chance, or drawing OF any kind or In
ing money through the mails by means OF false or
fraudulent prctenses representation, promises,
forbid the payment Dy anv postmaster 70 any such
person, nrm, or corporation OF any postal money
order dra En To the order or in favor OF him OF
them and may provide by regulations for the return
70 the remitters OF the sums named in such money
ordera. And the Postmaster General may also upon
like evidence instruct pOstmasters az any post offices
at which qregistered letters shall arrive directed u
any such person, firm, or corporate TO retu all
such registered letters 70 the postmasers 1t the Of
does at which they were originally mailed, with the
WORD fraudulent plainly written or stamped upon
the outside Of said etterss all such letters so
returned 20 such postmss shall be by them
a. the Postmaster General may prescribei frovided
rhat nothing In this act contained shall be so
strued as 70 authorize any postnlaster or other
persen TO open any letter not addressed TO himself
O. BO1. That II any person having devised or In
tending 70 devise any scheme or arunce TO deiraud,
or Effected by either opening or intending TO open
correspondence cOmmnnie alton wi b any other
person. (whether resident within or outside of the
Un ted Stacey BY means OF the post ONCE establish
ment Of the United Btates0r by incitlag such other
person TO open communication with the person 30
devising or intending, shall in and for executing
place any letter or paoTet in any post ONCE Of the
United states, or take or receive any therefrom,
sch person, 80 miAusing the post ONCE establish
he punished with line of n more than i've hum
drea dollars. with or wlIhout such imprisonment as
endar months The Indictment, Information, or
complaint may severally charge Onenses to the
numbet OF three hen committed within the same
give single sentence, and shall proportion the pun
Ishment especially TO the degree In which the abuse
of the pest Oiice establishment enters nstru-
ment into such fraudulent scheme and device
$50. S02 hat all letters, packelB other matter
which may be seizsd or detained for violation OF
law shall D. returned TO the owner sender OF the
same, Or Otherwise dlsp5 5sed Of az the Postmaster
General may dtrec
SIC. 808 That all suits arising under the I0stal
laws, the regulations of the 20 JmAster neral
pursuant hereto, shall he Instituted In the me Of
the United ates OF America and the demands In
aua IN n a q
adjudication aud payment secn ed by law to other
cl inns OF the United states
SEC s04 That all causes OF action arising under
the pO tai laws may be sued, snd all offenders
against the may be prosecuted, before toe cir
cult or district courts OF the Unit d States
bRc .O5 That all causes of action arising under
the postal laws may he sued, and all offenders
against the same may be prosecuted, before the
justices Of the peace, magstrates or other judicial
courts OF the several states and Territories havDg
competent Jurisdiction by the laws thereof, to the
trial OF claims and demands OF as great Value, and
OF prcseeut ms where the punishments are OF as
great extent; and such justices, magistrates, or
Judiciary shall take c0gnzance thereof and proceed
70 judgm mt aud execution as In other cases
SEQ 9O6 That In ali cults or causes arising under
the postal laws the court snail proceed 20 trial and
render Judgment the nrst term after commencement
Of suit; but whenever service Of process shall net
be made at least twenty days previous to the return
day OF such term, the defendant snail be entitled to
one continuance, II on his statement the court shall
deem Ia expedlent; and II said defendant shall
once department, which has been submitted to
and disRllOwed by the Auditor for said Depart
ment, and shall specify such claim In his alfidavt
and that he could not be prepared for trial at such
term for want OF evidence, the court being satisfied
In these respects may ant continuance uatil the
N O IaFm