ART. 14] ALTERATIONS——LOST BILLS. 307

1910, ch. 336, sec. 15 (p. 37).

15. Except as provided in section 27, and except when compelled
by legal process, if a carrier delivers part of the goods for which a
negotiable bill had been issued, and fails either—

A. To take up and cancel the bill, or

B. To place plainly upon it a statement that a portion of the goods
has been delivered, with a description, which may be in general terms,
either of the goods or packages that have been delivered or of the goods
or packages which still remain in the carrier's possession, he shall be
liable for failure to deliver all the goods specified in the bill, to any one
who for value and in good faith purchases it, whether such purchaser
acquired title to it before or after the delivery of any portion of the
goods by the carrier, and notwithstanding such delivery was made to
the person entitled thereto.

1910, ch. 336, sec. 16 (p. 37).

16. Any alteration, addition or erasure in a bill after its issue with-
out authority from the carrier issuing the same, either in writing or
noted on the bill, shall be void, whatever be the nature and purpose of
the change, and the bill should be enforceable according to its original
tenor.

1910, ch. 336, sec. 17 (p. 37).

17. Where a negotiable bill has been lost or destroyed, a court of
competent jurisdiction may order the delivery of the goods upon satis-
factory proof of such loss or destruction, and upon the giving of a
bond with sufficient surety, to be approved by the court, to protect the
carrier or any person injured by such delivery from any liability or
loss, incurred by reason of the original bill remaining outstanding.
The court may also in its discretion order the payment of the carrier's
reasonable costs and counsel fees.

The delivery of the goods under an order of the court, as provided
in this section, shall not relieve the carrier from liability to a person to
whom the negotiable bill has been or shall be negotiated for value with-
out notice of the proceedings or of the delivery of the goods.
See art. 13. sec. 11.

1910, ch. 336, sec. 18 (p. 37).

18. A bill upon the face of which the word "duplicate" or some
other word or words indicating that the document is not an original bill
is placed plainly, shall impose upon the carrier issuing the same the
liability of one who represents and warrants that such bill is an accurate
copy of an original bill, properly issued, but no other liability.

1910. ch. 336, sec. 19 (p. 37).

19. No title to goods or right to their possession, asserted by a
carrier for his own benefit, shall excuse him from liability for refusing
to deliver the goods according to the terms of a bill issued for them,