An Act To Provide For The Protection Of Rights Of Property In Telegraphic Messages, And To Prevent The Forging Or Improper Disclosure Of Telegrams.

Case Overview and Summary

Summary of ACT No. 1851 - The Telegraph Message Act

Title and Short Title (Section 1):
- The short title of this Act is "The Telegraph Message Act".

Protection of Rights in Telegraphic Messages (Section 2):
- No person, association, or corporation shall publish or transmit a telegraphic message received by another party without written consent, until:
  - 48 hours after the first publication by the receiving party, or
  - 60 hours after the receiving party received the message.
- This does not apply if the message was lawfully received by another party.

Publication Requirements (Section 3):
- Protected telegraphic messages must be published with the heading "By telegraph", along with:
  - The name of the claiming party
  - The original telegram's notations of hour, date, address, place, and word count
  - The publication hour, serving as prima facie evidence of receipt details.

Forgery and Uttering of Telegrams (Section 4):
- Willfully forging, altering, or uttering a forged telegram is punishable by a fine not exceeding 100 pesos.

Definition of "Telegram" (Section 5):
- A "telegram" is a written or printed message sent to a post office or telegraph company for transmission by telegraph or delivery.

Definition of "Telegraph Company" (Section 6):
- A "telegraph company" includes all persons, associations, or corporations engaged in receiving and sending telegrams for hire, including government-owned or operated telegraph lines open to public use.

Improper Disclosure by Telegraph Company Employees (Section 7):
- Telegraph company officers or employees who improperly divulge the contents or purport of any telegram are punishable by:
  - Imprisonment not exceeding 6 months, or
  - A fine not exceeding 200 pesos, or
  - Both fine and imprisonment, at the court's discretion.

Penalties for Unauthorized Publication (Section 8):
- Associations or corporations that publish telegrams in violation of this Act are punishable by a fine not exceeding 500 pesos per offense.
- Individuals involved in such unauthorized publication are punishable by:
  - A fine not exceeding 200 pesos per offense, or
  - Imprisonment not exceeding 6 months, or
  - Both fine and imprisonment, at the court's discretion.

Effective Date (Section 9):
- This Act took effect upon its enactment on June 9, 1908.