Chap. 474.—An ACT to prevent the injuring, destroying, or removing of any
switch-lamp, flag-lamip or other signal used by any railroad, and to provide pun-
ishment therefor.

Approved February 24, 1898.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That if any
person maliciously injure, destroy, or remove any switch-lamp, flag, or
other signal used by any railroad whereby the life of any traveler, em-
ployee, or other person is or may be put in peril, he shall be punished
by confinement in the penitentiary not less than two nor more than ten
years; and in the event of the death of any traveler, employee, or other
person resulting from such malicious injuring, destroyingyor removing,
the person so offending shall be deemed guilty of murder, the degree to
be determined by the jury. If such act be done unlawfully, but not
maliciously, the offender shall, in the discretion of the jury, be confined
in the penitentiary not less than one nor more than five years, or be con-
tined in jail not exceeding twelve months and fined not exceeding five
hundred dollars. And in the event of the death of any traveler, em-
plovee, or other person, resulting from each unlawful injuring, destroy-
Ing, or removing, the person so offending shall be deemed guilty of
murder or of manslaughter as the Jury may determine.

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