JOHN WALTER SMITH, ESQ., GOVERNOR.

entitled "Crimes and Punishments," sub- title "Cruelty to
Animals," to be known as Section 46 T, and to read as
follows :

735

46 T. Any officer or agent of the Maryland Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, or of any society or asso-
ciation for the prevention of cruelty to animals, duly incor-
porated under the laws of this State, may take charge of any
animal found abandoned that may appear to be diseased or
disabled beyond recovery for any useful purpose, and there-
upon shall, as quickly as may be, cause such animal to be
appraised under oath by two reputable citizens, who shall
view the same in his presence, and determine its value; and
if such appraised value does not exceed five dollars, such
officer may at once cause said animal to be killed in a humane
manner; said society shall thereupon be indebted to the
owner for the amount of its value, except when the appraisers
determine that the death of the animal was rendered neces-
sary by the owner's wilful abandonment or cruelty; said
appraisers shall thereupon make oath to a certificate of their
finding as to abandonment, value and necessity of death of
said animal before a justice of the peace or notary public,
which certificate shall be in writing, and be evidence of the
truth of the matter contained therein.

SEC 2. And be it enacted, That this Act shall take effect
from the date of its passage.

Approved April 7, 1900.

CHAPTER 457.

AN ACT to add three additional sections to Article 66 of the
Code of Public General Laws, title "Mortgages," to be
known as Sections twenty-six, twenty-seven and twenty-
eight.

Destruction of
abandoned
animals.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Mary-
land, That three additional sections be added to Article 66 of
the Code of Public General Laws, title "Mortgages," to be
known as Sections twenty-six, twenty -seven and twenty-
eight, and to read as follows:

Mortgages.

26. Whenever any real estate or leasehold interest therein
is encumbered by a mortgage, deed or other instrument in
the nature of a mortgage, except when it is otherwise agreed
by the terms thereof, no annual crops pitched or cultivated

Real estate
etc., encum-
bered by
mortgage,
deed, etc.