STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIBTTC. 431 



THE LA W OF MINNESOTA ON FRUIT STEALING. 



From pagps 61 and 62, General Laws of 1867 



An Act for the protection of fruit and ornamental trees^ shrubs, 

 vines, and vegetable productions. 



Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Minnesota: 



Section 1. That if any person or persons in this state shall 

 hereafter enter the enclosure of any person, without the leave or li- 

 cense of such owner, and pick, destroy, or carry away the fruit, or 

 any portion thereof, of any apple, pear, peach, plum, grape, or 

 other fruit tree, bush, or vine, or any vegetable products, such per- 

 son shall be deemed guilty of a misdeameanor, and upon conviction 

 thereof, may be fined any sum not less than ten nor more than fifty 

 dollars, and imprisoned in the county jail for any period not ex- 

 ceeding thirty days. 



Sec. 2. That if any person or persons in this state shall wilfully 

 and maliciously, and without lawful authority, cut down, root up, 

 sever, injure, peel, destroy or carry away, any fruit or ornamental 

 tree, or shrub, cultivated root, plant, or vine, of whatever kind, or 

 any fruit or other vegetable production, standing, or growing on, 

 or being attached to the land of another, or shall wilfully, and 

 without lawful authority, cut down, root up, destroy or injure, in 

 any manner, or carry away any fruit or ornamental tree, plant, 

 shrub, or vine, upon any street, lane, alley, public highway, or pub- 

 lic gronnds, in any city, town, or village in this state, such person 

 or persons so offending shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, 

 and upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine of not 

 more than five hundred dollars, or by imprisonment in the county 

 jail not exceeding three months, or both fine and imprisonment, at 

 the discretion of the court having jurisdiction of the case, and 

 shall, moreover, be liable double the amount of damages to the 

 party injured. 



Sec. 3. The penalties incurred by violation of this act may be 

 enforced by indictment in any court having jurisdiction of misde- 

 meanors in the county where the offence is committed, or the fine 

 may be recovered in an action for debt before any justice of the 

 peace of such county. 



Sec. 4. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after 

 its passage. 



Approved March 9, 1867. 



