978 CURRENCY. [ART. 29'

1888, art. 29, sec 7. 1860, art. 32, sec. 7. 1841, ch. 321, secs. 5, 6.

7. No person shall be liable to the penalties imposed in
sections 4, 5 and 6, who can show that the note or evidence of
debt he issued, passed or received was a real bona fide evidence
of debt and not intended to circulate as money; nor shall
anything contained in the said sections apply to the issues of
the banks of this State or to the lawful issues of banks char-
tered by another State, district or territory.

Ibid. sec. 8. 1860, art. 32, sec. 8. 1841, ch. 321, sec. 4.

8. The preceding sections in relation to the issuing or circu-
lating of promissory notes, orders, bills, evidences of debt and
other paper securities shall receive a liberal interpretation to
suppress the mischief, and any note, bill, order or other writ-
ing designed or used as money or currency shall be considered
a paper security within the meaning of the said sections; and
the forfeitures imposed in said sections shall be recovered
before a justice of the peace as small debts, one-half to the.
informer and the other half to the State.

Ibid sec. 9 1860, art. 32, sec 9 1818, ch. 191. 1820, ch. 150, sec 1

1823, ch. 147. 1841, ch. 302. 1842, ch. 251, sec. 4.

1844, ch. 111. 1852, ch. 235, sec. 1.

9. It shall not be lawful for any person, firm or association
of persons, corporation or body politic to pay out, circulate or
receive in payment of any debt any bank note, promissory
note or other obligation payable to bearer, or endorsed in
blank or to bearer, or any other note, token, scrip or device
whatsoever, devised or intended for circulation as currency
issued without the limits of this State, of a less denomination
than five dollars under a penalty of five dollars for each
offense, to be recovered by an action of debt in the name of
the State before any justice of the peace of the State, and it
shall not be lawful for any bank, savings institution, corpora-
tion or body politic of this State, or for any person or associa-
tion of persons, to make, issue or pay out any note or device
of the nature and character described in this section of a less
denomination than five dollars under the penalty prescribed in
this section for each offense, and to be recovered in the same
manner.

Ibid. sec. 10. 1860, art. 32. sec. 10. 1852, ch. 235, sec. 2.

10. One-half of the penalty recovered in any case under the
preceding section shall go to the informer and the residue