CHAP. 244.—An ACT to prescribe a fence-law for the district of Red
Bahk, and a part of the district of Black Walnut, in the county of

Halifax.
Approved February 26, 1886.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That
it shall be lawful for the county court of Halifax county, or the
judge thereof in vacation, upon the petition of at least five re-
sident freeholders, to submit to the qualified voters of Red
Bank district, and such part of Black Walnut district, in said
county, as the said court or judge may designate, the question
as to whether there shall or shall not be a fence-law in such dis-
tricts, or either of them; said election to be held and conducted
at such times, places, and in such manner, as said court or
judge may by order prescribe.

2. If it shall appear from the returns thereof that a majority
of the voters in such election is in favor thereof, then it shall
not be lawful thereafter for the owner or manager of any horse,
mule, swine, sheep, goat, or neat cattle of any description, to
permit the said animals to run at large beyond the limits of
their own lands; and if any of the animals enumerated in
the foregoing section shall thereafter be found going at large,
or upon the lands of any person other than the owner, the
owner or manager of said animals shall be liable for all damage
or injury done by the said animals to the owner of the crops or
lands upon which they may trespass, whether the said animals
wander from the premises of their owner in the county in which
the trespass was committed, or from another county. ,

3. In case of trespass as aforesaid, the aggrieved party may
make complaint to a justice of the district in which the trespass
is committed, who shall issue his warrant immediately, return-
able within five days from the date thereof; and at the time and
place named in the said warrant the case shall be tried, and the
amount of damage sustained by the complainant shall be ascer-
tained and judgment given for the same, with legal costs, as in
case of other warrants, but the defendant shall have the same
right of removal, and either party the same right of repeal, as
provided by law, in other cases of warrant for small claims.

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