Chapter 197. Providing for the protection of the users of the telephone and telegraph service and the properties and funds belonging thereto during Government operation and control
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CHAP. 197.— An Act Providing for the protection of the users of the telephone and telegraph service and the properties and funds belonging thereto during Government operation and control. October 29, 1918.[[H. R. 12976](/us/bill/65/hr/12976).][[Public, No. 230](/us/pl/65/230).] *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*, That whoever during Telephone and tele graph service.Unauthorized interference with, under Government control.*Ante*, p. 904.*Post*, p. 1807.the period of governmental operation of the telephone and telegraph systems of the United States by the Postmaster General, under the Act of Congress approved July sixteenth, nineteen hundred and eighteen, and the proclamation of the President dated July twenty-second, nineteen hundred and eighteen, shall, without authority and without the knowledge and consent of the other users thereof, except as may be necessary for operation of the service, tap any telegraph or telephone line, or willfully interfere with the operation of such telephone and telegraph systems or with the 1018transmission of any telephone or telegraph message, or with the delivery of any such message, or whoever being employed in any such telephone or telegraph service shall divulge the contents of any such telephone or telegraph message to any person not duly Punishment for.authorized or entitled to receive the same, shall be fined not exceeding $1,000 or imprisoned for not more than one year, or both.
Sec. 2. Embezzling, etc., funds, etc., thereof.That whoever shall steal, purloin, embezzle, or without authority destroy any money, property, record, voucher, or valuable tiling whatever of the moneys, goods, chattels, records, or property of any telephone or telegraph system operated by the Postmaster General under the Act of Congress approved July sixteenth, nineteen hundred and eighteen, and the proclamation of the President dated July twenty-second, nineteen hundred and Punishment for.eighteen, shall be fined not more than $5,000 or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.
Sec. 3. Unlawfully receiving stolen property, etc.That whoever shall receive, conceal, or aid in concealing, or shall have or retain in his possession with intent to convert to his own use or gain any money, property, record, voucher, or valuable thing whatever of the moneys, goods, chattels, records, or property of any telephone or telegraph system operated by the Postmaster General under the Act of Congress approved July sixteenth, nineteen hundred and eighteen, and the proclamation of the President dated July twenty-second, nineteen hundred and eighteen, which has been embezzled, stolen, or purloined by any other person, knowing the same to be embezzled, stolen, or Punishment for.purloined, shall be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned not more than five years, or both, and such person may be tried either before or after the conviction of the principal defendant.
Sec. 4. Forcible entry into office, etc.That whoever shall forcibly break into, or attempt to break into, any telephone or telegraph office, or any building used in whole or in part as such telephone or telegraph office, of any telephone or telegraph system operated by the Postmaster General under the Act of Congress approved July sixteenth, nineteen hundred and eighteen, and the proclamation of the President dated July twenty-second, nineteen hundred and eighteen, with intent to commit in such telephone or telegraph office or building, or part Punishment for.thereof so used, any larceny or other depredation, shall be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.
Sec. 5. Assault with intent to rob, etc., person in charge of property.That whoever shall assault any person having lawful charge, control, or custody of any money or property of any telephone or telegraph system operated by the Postmaster General under the Act of Congress dated July sixteenth, nineteen hundred and eighteen, and the proclamation of the President dated July twenty-second, nineteen hundred and eighteen, with intent to rob, steal, or purloin such money or property, or any part thereof, or shall rob any such person of such money or property, or any part Punishment for.With dangerous weapon.thereof, shall be imprisoned not more than five years ; and if in the effecting or attempting to effect such robbery, he shall wound such person having custody of the money or property, or put his life in Punishment for.danger by the use of a dangerous weapon, shall be imprisoned not more than ten years.
Approved, October 29, 1918.