town taxes, can not be convicted, though that part of the charter which requires the payment of town taxes as a qualification for voters may be unconstitutional, since nothing can be inferred against him for assuming that the charter is valid. Powers, 75-281.

Sec. 251 (3388). Felon voting.

If any person be challenged as being convicted of any crime which excludes him from the right of suffrage, he shall be required to answer any question in relation to such alleged conviction; but his answer to such questions shall not be used against him in any criminal prosecution, but if any person so convicted shall vote at the election, without having been restored to the right of citizenship, he shall be guilty of a felony and punished by a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars, or imprisoned in the state's prison not exceeding two years, or both.

1901, c. 89, s. 71.

Sec. 252 (3389). Liquor, giving away or selling at.

If any person shall give away or shall sell any intoxicating liquor, except for medical purposes and upon the prescription of a practicing physician, at any place within five miles of the polling place, at any time within twelve hours next preceding or succeeding any public election, whether general, local or municipal, or during the holding thereof, he shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and fined not less than one hundred nor more than one thousand dollars. 1901, c. 89, s. 76; 1905, c. 531.

Sec. 253 (3390). Oath, corruptly taking.

If any person shall corruptly take the oath prescribed for voters, he shall be guilty of perjury, and be fined not less than five hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars, and be imprisoned in the state's prison not less than two nor more than five years.

1901, c. 89, s. 49.

Sec. 254 (3391). Officer failing to discharge duty.

If any chairman of the county board of elections, or other returning officer whatever, shall willfully, or of malice, neglect to perform any duty, act, matter or thing required or directed in the time, manner and form in which such duty act, manner or thing is required to be performed in relation to the election, and returns thereof, of the governor, representatives in Congress, of justices of the supreme court, of judges of the superior court, of solicitors, or of electors for president and vice-president of the United States or other officers, the person so offending shall be guilty of a felony, and fined not less than one thousand nor more than five thousand

dollars, and be imprisoned not less than one nor more than three years.

1901, c. 89, s. 47.

Sec. 255 (3392). Permanent registration; taking false oath.

If any person shall knowingly register under the permanent registration law who is not qualified within the meaning of said law, and article six, section four, of the constitution, or if any person shall knowingly take any false oath in registering under the same, he shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than five years.

1901, c. 550, s. 12.

Sec. 256 (3393). Permanent registration, officer failing to discharge duty. If any officer charged with any duty under the permanent registration law willfully fails and neglects to perform the same, he shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction shall forfeit his office and be fined not more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than five years.

1901, c. 550, s. 11.

Sec. 257 (3394). Registering or voting at more than one box.

If any person shall, with intent to commit a fraud, register or vote at more than one box or more than one time, or shall induce another to do so, or if any person shall illegally vote at any election, he shall be guilty of a felony and be imprisoned in the state's prison not less than six nor more than twelve months, or fined not less than one hundred nor more than five hundred dollars, at the discretion of the court, and if any registrar of voters, or any clerk or copyist, shall make any entry or copy with intent to commit a frand, he shall be guilty of a like offense.

1901, c. 89, s. 48.

Sec. 258 (3395). Registering unlawfully.

If any person shall cause or procure his name to be registered in more than one election ward or precinct, or shall cause or procure his name, or that of any other person, to be registered, who is not entitled to vote in the ward or election precinct wherein such registration is made, or shall falsely personate any registered voter, he shall be guilty of a felony, and shall be punished for every such offense by a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars, or imprisoned in the state's prison not exceeding two years, or both, in the discretion of the court.

1901, c. 89, s. 70.

Sec. 259 (3396). Returns, failure to make.

If any registrar or judge of election, or any county canvasser or commissioner, register of deeds, clerk or chairman of county board of elections shall fail to make the returns and perform the duties required of him, he shall be fined not less than five hundred dollars, or imprisoned not more than six months nor less than two months, at the discretion of the court.

1901, c. 89, s. 46.

Sec. 260 (3397). Returns, making false.

If any person shall make, or certify, or deliver, or transmit a false return of an election held in this state, or make any erasure or alteration in the poll books, he shall be guilty of a felony and imprisoned in the state's prison not less than one year, and shall, in addition, forfeit and pay five hundred dollars, one-half to the use of the person who shall sue for the same, and the other half to the use of the state.

1901, c. 89, s. 83.

Sec. 261 (3398). Returns, copy of; refusal.

If any register of deeds or clerk of the superior court shall refuse to make and give to any person a duly certified copy of the returns of any election, or of a tabulated statement of any election, the returns of which are by law deposited in his office, upon the tender of the fees therefor, he shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction dismissed from office and imprisoned for one year.

1901, c. 89, s. 83.

Sec. 262 (3399). Removal, officer acting after.

If any member of the county board of elections, or any registrar or judge of election, after having been removed as provided by law, and notified thereof, shall continue to exercise the duties of the position from which he has been removed, he shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction shall be fined or imprisoned at the discretion of the court.

1901, c. 89, s. 10.

Sec. 263 (3400). Taxes, sheriff to furnish list of.

If any sheriff or tax collector shall fail, between the first day of May and the tenth day of May of any year in which a general election occurs, to certify to the clerk of the superior court of his county a list of all persons who have paid their poll tax for the previous year, he shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

1901, c. 89, s. 13.

Sec. 264 (3401). Taxation, false certificate of exemption from.

If any person shall willfully and knowingly present to any election officer any false certificate of exemption from taxation he shall be guilty of forgery.

1901, c. 89, s. 13.

Sec. 265 (3402). Tax receipt given without payment.

If any tax collector or sheriff shall willfully fail to give a tax receipt to any person paying his poll tax, or shall falsely date any tax receipt or duplicate thereof, he shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and punished in the discretion of the court.

1901, c. 89, s. 13.

ELECTRIC LINES.

Sec. 266. Injury to prohibited.

It shall be unlawful for any person within the State of North Carolina willfully and wantonly, and without the consent of the owner, to take down, remove, injure, obstruct, displace or destroy any line erected or constructed for the transmission of electrical current or any poles, towers, wires, conduits, cables, insulators or any support upon which wires or cables may be suspended, or any part of any such line or appurtenances or apparatus connected therewith, or to sever any wire or cable thereof, or in any manner to interrupt the transmission of electrical current over and along any such line, or to take down, remove, injure or destroy any house, shop, building or other structure or machinery connected with or necessary to the use of any line erected or constructed for the transmission of electrical current, and to wantonly or willfully cause injury to any of the property mentioned in this section by means of fire; and any person or persons violating any of the provisions of this act shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned not longer than one year, or both fined or imprisoned, in the discretion of the court.

1907, c. 919.

ELECTRIC AND STEAM APPLIANCES.

Sec. 267 (3666). Electric and steam appliances protected.

If any person shall willfully, with intent to injure or defraud, commit any of the acts set forth in the following subsections, he shall be guilty of a misdemeanor:

1. Connect a tube, pipe, wire or other instrument or contrivance with a pipe or wire used for the conducting or supplying of illuminating gas, fuel, natural gas or electricity in such a manner as to supply such gas or electricity to any burner, orifice, lamp or motor where the same is or can be burned or used without passing through the meter or instrument provided for registering the quantity consumed; or,

2. Obstruct, alter, injure or prevent the action of a meter or other instrument used to measure or register the quantity of illuminating fuel, natural gas or electricity consumed in a house or apartment, or at an orifice or burner, lamp or motor, or by a consumer or other person other than an employee of the company owning any gas or electric meter, who willfully shall detach or disconnect such meter, or make or report any test of, or examine for the purpose of testing any such meter so detached or disconnected; or,

3. In any manner whatever change, extend or alter any service or other pipe, wire or attachment of any kind, connecting or through which natural or artificial gas or electricity is furnished from the gas mains or pipes of any person, without first procuring from said person written permission to make such change, extension or alteration; or,

4. Make any connection or reconnection with the gas mains, service pipes or wires of any person, furnishing to consumers natural or artificial gas or electricity, or turn on or off or in any manner interfere with any valve or stop-cock or other appliances belonging to such person, and connected with its service or other pipes or wires, or enlarge the orifice of mixers, or uses natural gas for heating purposes except through mixers, or electricity for any purpose without first procuring from such person a written permit to turn on or off such stop-cock or valve, or to make such connection or reconnections, or to enlarge the orifice of mixers, or to use for heating purposes without mixers, or to interfere with the valves, stop-cocks, wires, or other appliances of such, as the case may be; or,

5. Retain possession of or refuse to deliver any mixer, meter, lamp, or other appliances which may be leased or rented to them by any person, for the purpose of furnishing gas, electricity or power through the same, or who sells, loans or in any manner disposes of the same to any person other than the said person entitled to the possession of the same; or,

6. Set on fire any gas escaping from wells, broken or leaking mains, pipes, valves or other appliances used by any person in conveying gas to consumers, or interfere in any manner with the wells, pipes, mains, gate-boxes, valves, stop-cocks, wires, cables; conduits