The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-01-22
THE STOCK LAW.
An Act to Protect the Lands and Crops
Of tho Citizens Of Abbcvillc, Union.
Ncwbcrry and Laurcns ConEtlcs
from Trespass BIZ Stock.

BE it Enacted by tho Senate and House
of Representatives of the State OF South
Carolina, now met ANA sitting III General
Assembly, and by the authority OF the
same:
SECTION l. Thatin the Counties of Alb
bcvillc, Union, Newberry and La,ircns it
shall not be lawful for the owner or man.
aycr of any horse, mulo, ass, genet, swine,
sheep, goat or neat cattle of any deScrlp-
ton to permit the said animals, o: any of
them, to run at large beyond thclimits OF
their own land.
SEC. 9. That in said Counties, when
ever any of the said stock shall be found
upon the lands of any otllor person than
the owner, the owner OF such stock shall
be liable for all damages sustained, to be
recovered by action OF debt In any Cour
Of competent Jurisdiction, and the stock
causing the damage shall be held liable
for the same in preference 20 all other
liens. claims or incumbrances against the
same.
SEC. 3. Any person who shall inalic-
iously, unlawfIlly OF ncgligently permit
any OF said stock to 80 upon tho lands OF
other parties shall be deemed guilty Of a
mi>dcmeannr, and, upon conviction there
Of in a competent Court, shall DO fined
in q sum not exceeding thirty dollars or
imprisoned for not mOrethan thirty days,
in The discretion Of the Court.
SEC. 4. That the County Commission
crs OF said Counties, respectively, arc
directed to erect a lawful fence on the
limits OF said Counties to protect tho lands
OF said Counties from all incursior, of
stock or cattle from adjacent Counties.
and for that purpose enter the lands OF
any person in said Counties and erect
fences thereon without being guilty OF
any trcspaSs whatever and The sail Com
miSSioncrs shall have pnvcr to construct
fences across any public or private road
and erect gates on all roals; and she Cnun-
" Commissioners are hereby authorized
and empowered u make such arrange
mcntS with the Of property con-
%tiguous on either side OF said County lines
aS may accomplish the object Of protect
ing the Counties from the incursions OF
cattle and stock.
SEC. 5. That any person who shall
willfully end unlaw(.lly leave open any
Of the aforesaid gates or do any wiliful
i damage to the gates or fences erected for
the purpose aforesaid shall be deemed
guilty IF y misdctncanor, and, on convic-
ton in any Court Of competent jrrisdic-
ton. shall be fined in a sum not exceed
iny twenty (2a) dollars or imprisoned not
more than twenty coy days.
SEC. 8. Any person other than the
owner OF their agents moving or destroy
ing any portion Of any fence intended to
enclose animals Of any kind shall be
deemed guilty Of = mislemcanor, and,
upon conviction thereof, shall he punish
ed by Il fine or imprisonment, or both, at
the discretion Of the Court.
SEC. I. That the County Commission
crs of said Counties, respectively, Shall
be authorized and inSLrusted to levy and
collect a tax upon the property of said
County to dcfray the expenses of erect
ing and maintaining said fences, said tax
cs to be collected ut the Same time and i'll
tho same MANNER rs the State and County
taxes are levied and collected.
SEC. S. This Act to tako effect immo-
diatcly and the fences required to be com-
plctcd by the fourth (4th) day Of March
next.
SEC. 8. That all Acts and parts OF
Acts inconsistent with this Act be, and
the same are hereby. repealed.
Approved December II. 1878.