Procedure where claims disputed by cattle owner

(1) In case any cattle are impounded in a public or private pound or place of security, and a larger amount of damages, penalties, fees or expenses are claimed than are reasonable or authorised, and the owner of such cattle, or his agent, disputes the amount of such damages, penalties, fees and expenses, or the identity of the cattle, or the nature of the trespass committed by such cattle, or denies the legality of the impounding, the owner of such cattle, or his agent, may allow such cattle to remain in such pound or place of security until the case is decided, as is provided in section 19 of this Act, or pay by way of deposit the damages, penalties, fees and expenses demanded, and release the said cattle. (2) The pound keeper or person or persons as aforesaid is and are required and directed to release any cattle in respect of which a deposit is made under subsection (1) of this section. (3) The owner or his agent shall at the same time give notice in writing to the pound keeper, or person or persons impounding the cattle, that he intends to dispute the amount of such damages, penalties, fees and expenses, or the legality of such impounding, as the case may be, and thereupon such pound keeper, person or persons shall retain the amount of such damages, penalties, fees and expenses so paid, to abide the written order of the magistrate finally hearing and adjudicating on the matter of trespass out of which such impounding arose. (4) Every pound keeper or person or persons as aforesaid who fails to release and deliver such cattle as required and directed by subsection (3) of this section, or fails to obey such written order, shall be liable for every such offence to a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars.