Offences Against the Person Act 1861

31 Setting Spring Guns, &c., with Intent to inflict grievous bodily Harm.

Whosoever shall set or place, or cause to be set or placed, any Spring Gun, Man Trap, or other Engine calculated to destroy Human Life or inflict grievous bodily Harm, with the Intent that the same or whereby the same may destroy or inflict grievous bodily Harm upon a Trespasser or other Person coming in contact therewith, shall be guilty of a Misdemeanor, and being convicted thereof shall be liable, at the Discretion of the Court, to be kept in Penal Servitude for the Term of Three Years, or to be imprisoned for any Term not exceeding Two Years, with or without Hard Labour; and whosoever shall knowingly and wilfully permit any such Spring Gun, Man Trap, or other Engine which may have been set or placed in any Place then being in or afterwards coming into his Possession or Occupation by some other Person to continue so set or placed, shall be deemed to have set and placed such Gun, Trap, or Engine with such Intent as aforesaid: Provided that nothing in this Section contained shall extend to make it illegal to set or place any Gin or Trap such as may have been or may be usually set or placed with the Intent of destroying Vermin: Provided also, that nothing in this Section shall be deemed to make it unlawful to set or place or cause to be set or placed, or to be continued set or placed, from Sunset to Sunrise, any Spring Gun, Man Trap, or other Engine, which shall be set or placed, or caused or continued to be set or placed, in a Dwelling House, for the Protection thereof.