537.300. Penalty for driving away of others' stock by drovers. - Missouri Statutes

Penalty for driving away of others' stock by drovers.

537.300. Whenever any drover, or other person or personsengaged in driving horses, mules, cattle, hogs or sheep throughany part of the state of Missouri, shall drive off or shallknowingly and willingly suffer or permit to be driven off fromthe premises of any citizen of said state, or from the range inwhich stock of any citizen usually run, to any distance exceedingthree miles from such premises or range, any horses, mules, neatcattle, hogs or sheep belonging to such citizen, it shall belawful for the owner of any such stock so driven off to followand reclaim the same wherever it may be found; and for the takingand driving away, or suffering or permitting to be driven away,of such stock, the said owner shall be entitled to recover fromany said drover, or other person or persons guilty thereof, foreach head of horses, mules, neat cattle, hogs or sheep so drivenaway, twice the value thereof, to be recovered in civil action inthe circuit court of the proper county before either a circuit orassociate circuit judge and such case may be heard and determinedby an associate circuit judge under chapter 517, RSMo, procedureswithout special assignment or transfer regardless of the amountof the claim; provided, however, that if the drover shall notpass any habitation where there is a sufficient enclosure for thesafekeeping of such animal or animals within said three miles,and shall separate said cattle or other stock from the drove atthe next habitation, in such case said action shall not accrue tothe owner of said property.

(RSMo 1939 § 14495, A.L. 1978 H.B. 1634)

Prior revisions: 1929 § 12821; 1919 § 4311; 1909 § 812

Effective 1-2-79