The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1903-04-02
[ApproVed March Al
Chapter 36.


An Act relating to Lost Goods and Stray
| Beasts.
Section !. Section ten, Of chapter nine
| ty-eight of the revised statutes is hereby
| amended to read is follows:
/ Section 10. Whoever finds lost money OF
| goods of the value of three dollars OF
! more, shall, If the owner Is unknown,
| within seven days give notice thereof In
writing to the clerk of the town where
| they are found and post a notification
thereof in some public place in said town
| If the value is ten dollars or more, the
| finder in addition to the notice to the town
clerk and the notification to be posted
as aforesaid shall within one month after
finding, publish notice thereof in some
newspaper published in the town, If any,
otherwise in some newspaper published in
| the county
Section 2. Whoever takes up stray
| beast shall, within seven days give notice
! thereof in writing, containing descrip-
| ton of its color. and it's natural and artt-
| fetal marks, to the clerk of the town
where such beast Is taken and shall cause
q notice thereof, containing a like deScrip-
| ton of the beast to be posted and, If such
| beast Is of the value of ten dollars Vi
more, published. in the manner provided
In the preceding section: otherwise he
| shall not be entitled to compensation for
any expenses which he may incur relative
thereto.
Section 3. Section eleven of the same
| chapter is hereby amended to read as fol
lows:
| ObClDu II. Every lllltlcl VI iOSL bOOho VI
stray beasts of the value of ten dollars or
more, shall within two months after find
ing, and before using them to their disad-
vantage, procure warrant from the town
clerk or II justice of the peace. directed 10
two persons, appointed by said clerk or
Justice, not interested except as inhabi.
| tants of the town, returnable at said
clerks Office, within seven days from its
date. to appraise said goods under oath
| Section 4. Section twelve of the same
chapter is hereby amended to read as fol-
| lows:
Section 12 If the owner of such lost
money or goods appears within six
months and If the owner of such stray
beasts appears within two months after
said notice to the town clerk. and gives
reasonable evidence of his ownership to
the finder. he shall have restitution OF
them or the value of the money or goods
paying all necessary charges and reason
able compensation to the finder for keep
ing, to be adjudged by justice OF the
peace of the county, If the owner and the
finder cannot agree.
Section g. Section thirteen of the same
chapter is hereby amended to read as tol-
lows:
Section 10. If no owner appears within
six months such money or lost goods shall
belong to the finder, by paying one-hali
/ their value to the treasurer of said town
after deducting all necessary charges; bu
ii he neglects to pay it on demand IL may
be recovered in an action brought by salt
treasurer in the name of the town.
} and prove his title within said two
months, the finder may sell them at publ,
auction, first giving notice of such salt
at least four days before the time of sale
. In two public places in the town in which
the beasts were taken up; and the pro
ceeds of the sale. after deducting all law
full charges, shall be deposited in the tow
treasury.
Section Z. If such owner appears within
six months after such notice is filed will
/ the town clerk, and proves his title Il
the beasts, he shall, II they have not beer
sold have restitution of the same, afte
paying the charges arising thereon as pro
Vded in section four; and If the beast
( have been sold. he shall be entitled to re
. ceive the money so deposited IN the treas
ury from the proceeds of the sale. III NJ
! owner appears within six months, TIL
beasts or the value or price thereof, afte
deducting said charges, shall as prescribe'
i in section five be equally divided between
C the finder and the town.
$ Section s. Section fourteen OF the sam
chapter is hereby amended to read as fol
[ lows:
Section IA. If the finder of lost none
or goods, of the value of three dollars o
more or IL the person taking up such stra
beast, neglectS to give notice to the tow
i. clerk and to cause thGm to be advertise
: as herein provided, he forfeits to the own
err the full value thereof, unless he dehv
ers or accounts therefor to the owner, 4
5 which case he shall forfeit not more tina
twenty dollars, half to the town and hal
to the prosecutor.
Section o. Whoever takes away a beas
taken up as a stray, without paying a
lawful charges incurred in relation to tn
same, shall forfeit to the finder the valu
: thereof
\ Section TO- Any person injured In hi
Z land by sheep, swine, horses, asses, mules
goats, or neat cattle, in common or gen