Chap. 53.—An ACT to amend and reenact Section 4553 of the Code of Virginia
relating to injuries to burial grounds and to the punishment therefor and I:mit-
ing its application. {H 67]

Approved February 27, 1948

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That section forty-five hundred fifty-three of the Code of
Virginia be amended and reenacted as follows:

Section 4553. Injuries to cemeteries, burial grounds, etc.; how
punished.—If any person wilfully and maliciously destroy, mutilate,
deface, injure, or remove any tomb, monument, grave-stone, or
other structure placed within any cemetery, grave-yard, or place
of burial, or within any lot belonging to any memorial association,
or any fence, railing, or other work for the protection or ornament
of any tomb, monument, grave-stone, or other structure aforesaid,
or of any cemetery lot within any cemetery ; or wilfully or malicious-
lv destroy, remove, cut, break, or injure any tree, shrub, or plant
within any cemetery or lot of any memorial or momumental asso-
ciation: or wilfully or maliciously destroy, mutilate, injure, or re-
move and carry away any flowers, wreaths, vases, or other orna-
ments placed upon or around any grave, tomb, monument, or lot in
any cemetery, grave-yard or other place of burial; or wilfully ob-
struct proper ingress and egress to and from any cemetery or lot
belonging to any memorial association, he shall be fined not ex-
ceeding one hundred dollars, or confined in jail not exceeding six
months.

This section shall not apply to any work which is done by the
authorities of a church or congregation in the maintenance or
improvement of any burial ground or cemetery belonging to it
and under its management or control and which does not injure
or result in the removal of a tomb, monument, grave-stone, grave-
marker or vault.