Chap. 560.—An ACT to prevent the unlawful use of telephone and telegraph tines
and instruments and to protect them from injury and prescribe a penalty there-
for.

Approved February 28, 1898.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That any person
who shall maliciously injure, molest, cut down or destroy any telephone
or telegraph line, wire, cable or pole, or the material or property belong-
ing thereto, or any unauthorized person or persons who shall maliciously
cut, break, tap or make any connection with any telephone or telegraph
line, wire, cable or instrument where they have legally acquired the
right of way by purchase, condemnation or otherwise maliciously copy
in any unauthorized manner any message, either social, business or
otherwise, passing over it in this state, or who shall wilfully or malici-
ously prevent, obstruct or delay by any means or contrivance whatsoever,
the sending, conveyance or delivery in this state of any authorized com-
munication by or through any telephone or telegraph line, wire or cable
under the control of any telephone or telegraph company doing business
in this state, or who shall maliciously aid, agree with, employ or con-
spire with any unauthorized person or persons to unlawfully do, or cause
to be done, any of the acts hereinbefore mentioned, shall, on conviction
thereof, be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and be punished by a fine
of not less than fifty dollars nor more than two hundred dollars, or by
imprisonment in the county jail for not more than six months, or by
both fine and imprisonment within the limits hereinbefore specified, at
the discretion of the court having cognizance thereof.

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