The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1893-09-22
WEST VA. laws
In Regard to Stock and Fences

and description hereinafter men.
toned, shall be deemed a lawful
fence as to any stock named in
the third section. which could
not creep through the same, that
| is to say
l. If built of common rails,
known as the worm.fence, four
and one half feet high.
2. Ifbiilt with posts and rails.
orposts and plank, or pickets,
four feet high.
8. If built with stone, two feet
wide at the base, three and one
half feet high.
4. II a hedge fence, four feet
high. If any such fence be built
upon a mound, the same from
the bottom of the ditch shall be
included IN estimating the height
of the fence.
5. If built with posts and rails.
or posts and plank, or pickets,
or posts and barbed wire, four
feet high. If made of barbed
wire, shall consist of not less
than five strands, the first strand
eight inches, the second strand
fifteen inches, the third strand
twenty-fou inches, the fourth
strand thirty-six inches, and the
fifth strand forty-eight inches
from theground; upon the fourth
strand shall be placed blocks not
less than two inches square and
not more than two feet apart or
in place of the fourth wire a,
plank may be used, not less than
six inches wide and one inch
thick.
6. All rivers and streams, and
parts thereof, within this State,
which are lawful fences at the
time this chapter takes effect;
under existing laws, shall CON
time until otherwise ordered by
the county court of the county.
And hereafter the county court
ofany county may deeleso any
river or stream in its county, Of
which constitutes a boundary
line thereof a lawful fence, for
such places and for such distances
as it may deem proper, and may
discontinue any such river or
stream, or any part thereof as
lawful fence. which has already
been or shall be declared to be
such.
z. If any horses, mules, cattle,
sheep, hogs or goats, shall enter
into any grounds enclosed by a
lawful fence, the owner or
manager of any such animal
eba1l no liahle To the owner of
such grounds for any damages
he may sustain thereby and for
every succeeding trespass by
such animal, the owner thereof
shall be liable for double dam
ages. And after having given at
least five days notice in writing
to the owner or manager of such
animal of the fact of two previous
trespasses, the owner or occupier
of such grounds shall be entitled
to such animal if it be found
again trespassing on said ground.
THE owNERL1ABLE IN DAMAGES.
8. That it shall be unlawful
for any cattle, mules, horses,
sheep, hogs, goats or geese, to
run at large, ana should such
stock, while running at large,
destroy or iniure improperly of
another, the ownerof such stock,
shall pay to the party whose
property may be injured or des-
troyed, the amount of damages
sustained by him, by reason Of
such destruction or injury. And
the party so injured, may, If he
find such stock on his premises,
retain them or a sufficient num-
Der thereof, until the said dam,
ages, and costs of keeping, be
paid.
9. 1t shall be the duty of the
person retaining such stock, to
Immediately notify the owner
thereof, Il he be found within the
county, or of the injury or des,
truction of such property, and
the detention of his stock, and
the amount of damages he has
sustained thereby, and the cost
,.aa aud ;fthe