Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 4.djvu/166



to hard labour, not exceeding ten years, according to the aggravation of the offence.

. And be it further enacted, That, if any person or persons shall falsely make, forge, or counterfeit, or cause or procure to be falsely made, forged, or counterfeited, or willingly aid or assist in falsely making, forging, or counterfeiting any paper, writing, or instrument, in imitation of, or purporting to be, any letter of attorney, or other authority or instrument to assign, transfer, sell, or convey any share or sum in the public stock or debt of the United States, or in the capital stock of the president, directors, and company of the Bank of the United States, or to receive any annuity or annuities, dividend or dividends, due or to become due on any such stock or debt; or to receive any pension, prize money, wages, or other debt or sum of money due, or to become due from the United States; or shall forge or counterfeit, or cause or procure to be forged or counterfeited, or willingly aid or assist in forging or counterfeiting the name or names of any of the holders or proprietors of any such public stock or debt, or of any person entitled to any such annuity, dividend, pension, prize money, wages, or other debt or sum of money as aforesaid, in or to any such pretended letter of attorney, authority, or instrument; or shall, knowingly and fraudulently, demand, or endeavour to have or obtain such share or sum in such public stock or debt, or capital stock of the said bank, or to have any part thereof transferred, assigned, sold, or conveyed, or such annuity, dividend, pension, prize money, wages, or other debt or sum of money, or any part thereof, to be received or paid, by virtue of any such false, forged, or counterfeited letter of attorney, authority, or instrument; or shall falsely and deceitfully personate any true or real proprietor or holder of such share or sum in such public stock or debt, or capital stock of the said bank, or any person entitled to such annuity, dividend, pension, prize money, wages, or other debt or sum of money, as aforesaid, and thereby transferring or endeavouring to transfer such public stock or debt or capital stock of the said bank, or receiving, or endeavouring to receive the money of such true or lawful holder or proprietor thereof, or the money of such person or persons, really and truly entitled to receive such annuity, dividend, pension, prize money, wages, or other debt, or sum of money, as aforesaid, as if such offender were the true and lawful owner thereof, and entitled thereto; every person, so offending, shall be deemed guilty of felony, and shall, on conviction thereof, be punished by fine, not exceeding five thousand dollars, and by imprisonment and confinement to hard labour, not exceeding ten years, according to the aggravation of the offence.

. And be it further enacted, That if any person or persons, shall falsely make, forge, or counterfeit, or cause or procure to be falsely made, forged or counterfeited, or willingly aid or assist in falsely making, forging, or counterfeiting any instrument in imitation of, or purporting to be, an abstract or official copy, or certificate of the recording, registry, or enrolment of any ship or vessel, in the office of the collector of the