Chap. 71.—An ACT to amend and re-enact section one of chapter
ninety-six of the Code of eighteen hundred and seventy-three, and to
amend and re-enact section one of an act in reference to Obstructions
to Highways and Hindrances to Travelers, approved February seven-
teen, eighteen hundred and seventy-four.

Approved February 12, 1876.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly, That section one
of chapter ninety-six of the. Code of eighteen hundred and
seventy-three, and section one of an act in reference to ob-
structions to highways and hindrance to travelers, approved
February seventeenth, eighteen hundred and seventy-four,
be amended and re-enacted so as to read as follows:

§ 1. Any person who shall kill a tree and leave it standing
within the distance of fifty feet from any road, or shall,
knowingly and wilfully, without lawful. authority, break
down, destroy, or injure any bridge, bench, or log, placed
across a stream for the accommodation, or any sign-board,
mile-stone, or post for the direction of travelers, or shall ob-
struct any road, or any ditch made for the purpose of drain-
ing any such road, or shall wilfully ride or drive any vehicle
upon any side-walk constructed along any highway through
any unincorporated village in this state, shall be deemed
guilty of a misdemeanor.

§ 1. In case any one shall be charged before a justice of
the peace with any offence under the preceding section, it
shall be lawful for such justice to issue his warrant and cause
the party charged, to be arrested and brought before him, or
some other justice of the peace, who shall proceed to examine
the said party for the offence so charged. If the justice shall
be of the opinion that said party is guilty thereof, and that
there should be no greater punishment therefor than a fine
of twenty dollars, the said justice may proceed to render
judgment for such fine, not exceeding twenty dollars, as he
may deem just, with the costs, and commit the offender until
such fine and costs shall be paid; but the defendant may ap-
peal from such judgment to the county court, in which event
the same proceedings shall be had in the county court as if
the said party had been remanded to said county court for
trial for such offence.