Section 29Part 0 —
Frauds committed upon friendly societies
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To prevent fraud and imposition on the funds of such society by any officer, member or any other person being or representing himself to be a member of such society, or the nominee, executor, administrator or assignee of any member of such society or any other person whatever who shall, in or by any false representation or imposition, fraudulently obtain possession of the moneys of such society, or any part thereof, or having in his possession any sum of money belonging to such society, fraudulently withholds the same, and for which offence no special provision is made in the rules of such society, a Justice may, upon complaint made on oath or affirmation by an officer of such society appointed for that purpose, summon such person against whom such complaint is made to appear at a time and place named in such summons; and upon his appearance, or in default thereof, upon due proof upon oath or affirmation of the service of such summons, two Justices may hear and determine the complaint, according to the rules of the society, and, upon proof of such fraud, the Justices shall convict the said party, and award double the amount of the money so fraudulently obtained or withheld, to be paid to the treasurer, to be applied by him to the purposes of the society so proved to have been imposed upon and defrauded, together with such costs as are awarded by the said Justices, not exceeding the sum of one dollar; and in case such persons against whom such complaint is made do not pay the sum of money so awarded to the person and at the time specified in the said order, such Justices are required, by warrant under their hands and seals, to cause the case to be levied by distress and sale of the goods of such person on whom such order has been made, or by other legal proceedings, together with such costs as are awarded by the Justices, not exceeding the sum of one dollar; and also the costs and charges attending such distress and said or other legal proceedings, returning the surplus, if any, to the owner; and, in default of such distress being found, the Justices shall commit such person so proved to have offended to prison for such period, not exceeding three months, as to them shall seem fit:
Provided that nothing herein contained shall prevent the society from proceeding by indictment or complaint against the party complained of:
Provided also that no party shall be proceeded against by indictment or complaint, if a previous conviction has been obtained for the same offence under this Law.