Injuring, destroying or removing trees, saplings or poles; penalty

A person who shall cut, fell, work up, carry away, box, bore or destroy any tree, sapling or pole, standing or lying on any land within this State to which he has no right and title, without leave first obtained of the owner of the land for that purpose, shall forfeit and pay the sum of eight dollars ($8.00) for each tree, sapling or pole so cut, felled, worked up, carried away, boxed, bored or destroyed. One-half of such sum shall go to the owner or owners of the land and the other half to the person or persons suing for and prosecuting the same to effect, at any time within eighteen months from the commission of the acts complained of. Amended by L.1953, c. 5, p. 42, s. 45.