Chapter 12.
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/statutes-at-large/vol-20/chapter-12-73858·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
CHAP. 12.— AN ACT to punish embezzlement in the District of Columbia, and to protect the records of said District, and for other purposes.Feb. 4, 1878. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*,Embezzlement of effects of District of Columbia. That if any officer, clerk, agent, or employee in the service of the District of Columbia, or in the service of any of the officers thereof, shall embezzle or wrongfully convert to his own use, or fraudulently take, make, way with, or secrete, with intent to embezzle or fraudulently convert to his own use, or shall knowingly and willfully or wrongfully sell or dispose of any money, goods, rights of action, bonds, or obligations of the United States, or any State, or any municipal or other corporation, foreign or domestic, Treasury notes, postage or revenue stamps, warrants, or other valuable security or effects whatever, belonging to said District, or to any person, government, or corporation, which shall come into his possession or under his care by virtue of such office, clerkship, agency or employment, he shall, on conviction thereof, be punished by a fine not exceeding five thousandPenalty. dollars or by imprisonment not exceeding five years, or both.
Sec. 2. That if any officer, clerk, agent, or employee in the service ofEmbezzlement of effects of private citizens, etc. any person, firm, association, or corporation shall, within the District of Columbia, embezzle or wrongfully convert to his own use or fraudulently take, make way with, or secrete, with intent to embezzle or fraudulently convert to his own use, or shall knowingly and willfully or wrongfully sell or dispose of any money, goods, rights of action, bonds, or obligations of the United States, or any State, or any municipal or other corporation, foreign or domestic, Treasury notes, postage or revenue stamps, warrants, or other valuable security or effects whatever, belonging to such person, firm, association, or corporation, which shall come into his possession or under his care by virtue of such office, clerkship, agency or employment, he shall on conviction thereof, be punished by a fine-not Penalty.exceeding five thousand dollars or by imprisonment not exceeding five years, or both.
Sec. 3. That all records, books, files, maps plats, surveys, drawings,Records, etc., of District of Columbia. writings and other papers, of the late corporations of Washington Georgetown, or of the levy court of the District of Columbia, or made by persons in the employment or service of either of them, or of the District of Columbia, in the course of such employment or service, or which shall hereafter be so made, are, and shall be the property of the District of Columbia; and whoever shall stealStealing. any such record, book, file, map, plat, survey drawing or other paper, or instruments used in surveying or engineering work, such property of said District of Columbia shall upon conviction thereof, be imprisoned not more Penalty.than three years, or pay a fine not exceeding five thousand dollars or both, without reference to the value of the property or thing so taken.
Sec. 4. That all persons who shall willfully secrete or remove from theSecreting, etc. office, room or place where the same are usually kept, any record, book, file, writing, paper map, plat, survey, drawing, field note, or any note in reference to the same, or instruments used in surveying or engineering work, the property of the District of Columbia, or within the care or custody of the Commissioners of the District of Columbia, or of any officer or employé of said District, or shall alter, change, deface, obliterate or destroy the same or who having removed from such office room or place where the same was usually Altering, etc.kept any article or thing herein-before named, or who having come into possession of any such article or thing, so removed, and who knowing such to be the property of the District of Columbia shall hereafter on demand of the CommissionersRefusal to return. of said District, their agent or attorney, refuse or neglect forthwith to return the same, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be imprisoned not more than three years, or be fined notPenalty. exceeding five thousand dollars, or both.
Approved, February 4, 1878.