Any person, not empowered, who shall enter or try to enter forcibly on board any ship or vessel stranded or cast away or in distress or molest in the preservation thereof may be repelled by force. And any person who shall carry away or secrete any goods and effects saved as aforesaid shall forfeit and pay treble the value, to be recovered by the owner of such goods or his agent in any court of competent jurisdiction in this State.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 54-303; 1952 Code Section 54-303; 1942 Code Section 6290; 1932 Code Section 6290; Civ. C. '22 Section 5142; Civ. C. '12 Section 3398; Civ. C. '02 Section 2287; G. S. 1624; R. S. 1814; 1783 (4) 552.