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Fresh wroght timber seized on suspicion by a justice or person authorized;
if no satisfactory account, triple value to poor and informer, or most active constable.
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XIII. And whereas it is usual with timber-stealers to saw and work up as soon as possible the green timber they have illegally possessed themselves of; and it is not clearly understood, that justices of the peace, or those authorized by their warrant, have a power by any act now in force, to seize such wooden ware, and wrought-up timber, as are offered to sale by suspected persons: be it enacted by the authority aforesaid, That any justice of the peace, or person authorized under his hand and seal for that purpose, shall have power to seize all fresh wrought timber, whether wooden ware, cars, carts, fork or shovel handels, hoops, ploughs, harrows, or rakes tails, when found in possession of any person or persons suspected of having become illegally possessed of the same; and if such person or persons cannot give a satisfactory account of having procured them honestly, he or they shall be liable to such penalty, not exceeding triple the customary value of such wooden ware, carts, cars, fork or shovel handles, hooks, ploughs, harrows, or rakes tails, so found in their possession, as the said justice shall adjudge, one half thereof to the use of the poor of the parish, and the other moiety to the informer; or if there be none, to such sub or petty constable or wood-ranger, as shall appear to the justice before whom the offender is convicted, to have been most active in carrying the law into execution.
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