1304 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 649

CHAPTER 649.

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact, with amendments, Sections 10
and 11 of Article 39-A of the Code of Public General Laws
of Maryland, Title "Forestry."

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Mary-
land, That iSections 10 and 11 of Article 39-A of the Code of
Public General Laws of Maryland, Title "Forestry/' be, and
the same are hereby repealed and re-enacted, so as to read as
follows:

10. Every individual or corporation that wilfully, mali-
ciously, or with intent, sets on fire, or causes or procures to be
set on fire, any woods, brush, grass, grain or stubble, on lands
not their own, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon
conviction be punishable by a fine of not less than $25 or more
than $2,000, or imprisonment for not less than thirty days or
more than five years, or both such fine and imprisonment.

11. Every individual or corporation that carelessly or negli-
gently sets on fire, or causes or procures to be set on fire any
woods, brush, grass, grain or stubble resulting in damage to
the property of another, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and
upon conviction be punishable by a fine of not less than $10 or
more than $100, or imprisonment for not less than ten days or
more than one year, or both such fine and imprisonment. The
setting of fire contrary to the provisions of this section, or
allowing it to escape to the injury of adjoining lands, shall be
prima facie proof of carelessness or neglect within the meaning
of this section, and the land owner from whose land the fire
originated shall also be liable in a civil action for damages for
the injury resulting from such fire, and also for the cost of
fighting and extinguishing the same, unless the said owner can
prove to the satisfaction of the Justice or other tribunal before
which the case may be tried that the injury complained of was
suffered without any negligence on the part of said owner, his,
her or its agents, provided, however, that the provisions of this
Act shall in no manner contravene the provisions of Article
23, Section 244 of the Code of Public General Laws of Maryland,
relating to railroad companies.

SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That this Act shall take
effect the first day of June, 1927.

Approved April 26, 1927.