Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 76A.djvu/560

–464– -464§ 1423. Use of information derived from private messages Whoever, being an agent, operator or employee of a telegraph, cable or telephone office: (1) in any way uses or appropriates information derived by him from a private message passing through his hands addressed to another person, or in any other manner acquired by him by reason of his trust as such agent, operator or employee; or (2) trades or speculates upon any such information so obtained, or in any manner turns, or attempts to turn the information to his own account, profit or advantage— shall be fined not more than $5,000 or imprisoned in the penitentiary not more than five years, or both. § 1424. Fraudulently obtaining or using contents of message Whoever: (1) in any manner, willfully and fraudulently reads, or attempts to read, a message, or to learn the contents thereof, while the message is being sent over a telegraph line; or (2) willfully and fraudulently learns, or attempts to learn, the contents or meaning of a message while the message is in a telegraph or cable office, or is being received thereat or sent therefrom; or (3) uses or attempts to use, or communicates to others, any information so obtained— shall be fined not more than $5,000 or imprisoned in the penitentiary not more than five years, or both. § 1425. Bribing agent to disclose message; use of information Whoever: (1) by the payment or promise of a bribe, inducement or reward, procures, or attempts to procure, a telegraphj cable or telephone agent, operator or employee to disclose a private message, or the contents, purport, substance, or meaning thereof; or (2) offers to pay a telegraph, cable or telephone agent, operator or employee a oribe, compensation or reward for the disclosure of any private information received by him by reason of his trust as such agent, operator or employee; or (3) uses, or attempts to use, any information so obtained— shall be fined not more than $5,000 or imprisoned in the penitentiary not more than five years, or both. § 1426. Disclosure of telegraphic, cable or telephonic message Whoever willfully discloses the contents of a telegraphic, cable or telephonic message, or a part thereof, addressed to another person, without the permission of that person, unless directed so to do by the lawful order of a court, shall be punished by a fine of not more than $5,000, or by imprisonment in jail for not more than one year or in the penitentiary for not more than five years, or by both such fine and imprisonment. § 1^7. Altering telegraphic, cable or telephonic message Whoever willfully alters the purport, effect or meaning of a telegraphic, cable, or telephonic message to the injury of another, shall be punished by a fine of not more than $5,000, or by imprisonment in jail for not more than one year or in the penitentiary lor not more than five years, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

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