Chap. 229.—An ACT to protect electric Hghting and power companies and gas
companies and cities and towns from the theft of electric current, or gas, oF
Qpparatus, or unlawful interference therewith,

Approved Fi bruary 8, 1898.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That any person
who shall unlawfully injure or destroy, or having the right to prevent it
shall permit to be injured or destroyed, any meter, pipe, conduit, wire,
line, post, lamp or other apparatus belonging to a city or town or to a
company engaged in the manufacture or sale. of electricity or gas for
lighting or power purposes, or who shall unlawfully prevent an electric
or gas meter from duly registering the quantity of electricity or gas sup-
plied, or in any way unlawfully interfere with its proper action or Just
revistration, or who shall, without the consent of such company or city
or town, unt: uvfully divert any electric current from any wire of such
company or city or town, or who shall otherwise unlawfully use or cause
to be used, without the consent of such company or city or town, any
electricity or gas manufactured or distributed by such company or city
or town shall, on conviction thereof, be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor
and be punished by a fine of not less than twenty-five dollars nor more
than two hundred or by confinement mn jail for not more than one vear
or by both such fine and tniprisonment.

2. This act shall be in force from: its passage,