THIRTY-FIFTH CONGRESS. Sess. I. Ch. 40. 1858. 291 of California, or any instrument of writing whatever in relation to lands or mines or minerals in the State of California, the person so offending shall be deemed and adjudged guilty of a misdemeanor; and, being thereof duly convicted, shall be sentenced to be imprisoned and kept at hard labor for a period not less than three years, and not more than ten years, and shall be fined not exceeding ten thousand dollars. Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That if any person shall make, or Similqr provis-- cause or procure to be made, or shall willingly aid and assist in making f;;’;§g°Q}?s;;"€é any falsely dated petition, certificate, order, report, decree, concession, establish clgjgyeg denouncement, deed, patent, connrmation, diseno, map, espediente or part ¤§¤g1€S;;h§ Ugh? of an espediente, or any title-paper, or written evidence of right, title, or Rom gioxigug ° claim, under Mexican authority, to any lands, mines or minerals in the authority. State of California, or any instrument of writing in relation to lands or mines or minerals in the State of C3.llfo1'!ll3., having a. false date, 01- falsely purporting to be made by any Mexican officer or authority prior to the seventh day of July, A. D. eighteen hundred and forty-six, for the purpose of setting up or establishing any claim against the United States be lands, or mines or minerals within the State of California, or of enabling any person to set up or establish any such claim ; or if any person shall sign his name as governor, secretary, or other public officer acting under Mexican authority, to any instrument of writing falsely purporting to be a grant, concession, or denouncement under Mexican authority, and during its existence in California, of lands, mines, or minerals, or falsely purporting to be an informe, report, record, confirmation, or other proceeding on an application for a grant, concession, or denouncement under Mexican authority, during its existence in California, of lands, mines or minerals, the person so offending shall be deemed and adjudged guilty of a misdemeanor; and, being thereof duly convicted, shall be sentenced to be imprisoned and kept at hard labor for a period not less than three years, nor more than ten years, and shall be fined not exceeding ten thousand dollars. Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That if any person, for the purpose Presenting, for of setting up or establishing any claim against the United States to lands, ;‘;°hl£;g’5’“· *° mines, or minerals within the State of California, shall present, or cause Stgm gguytyguy or procure to be presented, before any court, judge, commission, or com- f<>¢‘z¢d»&¤· Bw9F, missioner, or other officer of the United States, any false, forged, altered, Q;)f’;‘:ii°f;t;?y or counterfeited petition, certificate, order, report, decree, concession, de- such court, nouncennent, deed, patent, diseio, map, espediente or part of an espediente, f°““d°d,°'l ““°h . . · . . . . _ . paper similarly mle-paper, or written evnlence of right, title, or clam to lands, minerals pmlisflm or mines in che State of California, knowing the same to be false, forged, altered, or oounterfeited, or any falsely dated petition, certificate, order, report, decree, concession, denouncement, deed, patent, confirmation, diseio, map, espediente or part of an espediente, title-paper, or written evidence of right, title, or claim to lands, mines, or minerals in California, knowing the same to be falsely dated; or if any person shall prosecute in any court 0f the United States, by appeal or otherwise, any claim against the United States for lands, mines, or minerals in California, or shall, after the passage of this act, continue to prosecute any claim now pending in said courts against the United States for lands, mines or minerals in California, which claim is founded upon, or evidenced by, any petition, certificate, order, report, decree, concession, denouncement, deed, patent, confirmation, diseio, map, espediente or part of an espediente, title-paper, or written evidence of right, title, or claim, which has been forged, altered, counterfeited, or falsely dated, knowing the same to be forged, altered, or counterfeited, or falsely dated, the person so offending shall be deemed and adjudged guilty of a misdemeanor-; and, on conviction thereof, shall be sentenced to be imprisoned and kept at hard labor for a period not less than three years, l10I' more than ten years, and shall be fined not exceeding ten thousand dollars. Approved, May 18, 1858.
