Sec. 16.
Any person connected with any telegraph company in this state or connected with any such company transacting business in this state, either as clerk, operator, messenger, or in any other capacity, who shall willfully or negligently divulge the contents or the nature of the contents of any private communication entrusted for transmission or delivery to the agent, clerk, operator, messenger, or other person in the employ of such company, or who shall willfully refuse or neglect to transmit or deliver the same, shall, on conviction before any court, be adjudged guilty of a misdemeanor and shall suffer imprisonment in the county jail where such conviction shall be had, for a term not exceeding 6 months, or shall pay a fine not exceeding 500 dollars, in the discretion of the court; and such company shall be liable to the party aggrieved for all damages sustained thereby.
History: 1851, Act 59, Imd. Eff. Mar. 20, 1851 ;-- CL 1857, 2064 ;-- CL 1871, 2640 ;-- How. 3708 ;-- CL 1897, 6682 ;-- CL 1915, 8781 ;-- CL 1929, 11677 ;-- CL 1948, 484.166
Structure Michigan Compiled Laws
Chapter 484 - Telephone, Telegraph, and Radio
Act 59 of 1851 - Telegraph Companies (484.151 - 484.172)
Section 484.151 - Telegraph Companies; Incorporators.
Section 484.152 - Telegraph Companies; Certificate of Organization, Contents, Filing.
Section 484.153 - Body Corporate; Certified Copy of Certificate as Evidence.
Section 484.154 - Power to Hold Realty; Officers and Agents; Rules and By-Laws.
Section 484.155 - Telegraph Lines; Construction, Restrictions.
Section 484.156 - Aggrieved Property Owner; Remedy, Procedure.
Section 484.157 - Injury to Line; Penalty.
Section 484.158 - Stockholder's Liability for Corporate Debts; Contribution.
Section 484.159 - Annual Report; Contents; Failure to Make, Liability of Directors.
Section 484.160 - Annual Tax; in Lieu of Other State Taxes.
Section 484.161 - Shares of Stock; Status as Personalty, Transfer, Purchase in Other Corporations.
Section 484.163 - Books; Inspection, Use as Evidence; Penalty, Forfeiture.
Section 484.164 - Transmission of Dispatches; Penalty.
Section 484.165 - Transmission of Dispatches; Order of Transmission; Penalty.
Section 484.166 - Divulging Contents; Willful Failure to Transmit; Penalty, Civil Liability.
Section 484.167 - State's Lien for Taxes; Sale; Surplus.
Section 484.168 - Amendment or Repeal of Act.
Section 484.169 - Immediate Effect.
Section 484.170 - Appraisal of Damages; Lands in More Than 1 County.
Section 484.171 - Appraisal of Damages; Contiguous Lands of Same Person.
Section 484.172 - Amendment to Articles; Filing, Recording, Use of Certified Copy as Evidence.