324 ARTICLE 27.

section by the person or persons who would receive the direct benefits
from the use of the gag without it being measured or registered on a
meter as aforesaid.

An. Code, 1024, sec. 180 1912, sec. 158. 1904, sec. 143. 1888, sec. 106.
1886, ch. 222, sec. 2. 1927. ch. 677, sec. 180.

180. Any person, who with intent to injure or defraud any gas com-
pany, body corporate of this State, shall wilfully injure, alter or obstruct,
or prevent the action of any meter provided for the purpose of measuring
and registering the quantity of gas consumed by or at any burner, orifice
or place, or cause or procure any such meter to be injured or altered, or the
action thereof to be obstructed or prevented, shall be deemed guilty of a
misdemeanor, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by imprison-
ment not exceeding six months, or by fine not exceeding two hundred and
fifty dollars, or both, in the discretion of the court. The existence of any
injury or alteration of such meter which obstructs or prevents the action
thereof as aforesaid, shall be prima facie evidence of intent to violate and
of the violation of this section by the person or persons who would receive
the direct benefits from the use of gas passing through such injured or
altered meter.

Fraud—Upon Electric Companies, and Damaging, Interferring, or
Tampering With the Property of Such Companies.

An Code, 1924, sec 106. 1012, sec. 91 1904, sec. 83. 1898, ch. 400, secs 59A and B.

1927, ch. 677, sec. 180A.

180A. It shall be unlawful for any person or persons to wilfully con-
nect or disconnect any electrical conductors belonging to any company
using or engaged in the manufacture and supply of electric currents for
purposes of light, heat and power or either of them, or to make any connec-
tion with any such electrical conductors for the purpose of using or wast-
ing the electric current, or to in anywise tamper with any meter used to
register current consumed, or to interfere with the operation of any
dynamo or other electrical appliance of such company, or to tamper with
or interfere with the poles, wires or conduits used by such companies,
unless such person or persons shall be duly authorized by or be in the
employ of such company; provided, that nothing in this section shall in
any way interfere with any lawful supervision and control of electric light
and power companies, their electric conductors, appliances, machinery and
poles by the municipality within which such companies are doing business,
or by the officers of such municipality, nor shall anything in this section
interfere with any right now existing in the councils of any municipality
to pass ordinances relating to and regulating such electric light and power
companies. Any person or persons found guilty of a violation of any of
the provisions of this section shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and
shall, upon conviction thereof, be imprisoned not exceeding six months or
fined not exceeding five hundred dollars, or both or either, in the discretion
of the court. The existence of any connection, wire, conductor, meter