A telegraph company shall be liable in damages to a person injured in his person or property by the poles, wires or other apparatus of such company. If they are erected upon a public way, the city or town shall not, by reason of anything contained in this chapter or done thereunder, be discharged from its liability, but all damages and costs recovered against it on account of such injury shall be reimbursed by the company owning the poles, wires or other apparatus.
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 166, § 42
Liability of telegraph company for injury caused by poles, wires or other apparatus
Official source: Massachusetts Legislature. Reproduced from public-domain Massachusetts statutes; confirm against the official source for the current text. Not legal advice.