This goes out to anyone who has ever wondered if they committed a crime by taking the “Do Not Remove Under Penalty of Law” label off of a mattress or other piece of furniture. It would seem that in 1869, Niagara County residents had even more to worry about. Imagine the dilemma faced by our early counterparts as they read the following label.

“A penalty of fifty dollars is imposed upon every person who makes, signs, or issues, or who causes to be made, signed, or issued, any paper of any kind or description whatever or who accepts, negotiates, or pays, or causes to be accepted, negotiated or paid, any bill of exchange, draft, or promissory note, for the payment of money, without the same being duly stamped, or having thereupon an adhesive stamp for denoting the tax chargeable thereon, cancelled in the manner required by law, with intent to evade the provisions of the revenue act.”

Douglas Farley, Director
Erie Canal Discover Center
24 Church St.
Lockport NY 14094
716.439.0431
CanalDiscovery@aol.com
www.NiagaraHistory.org