§ 17-170. Destroying or delaying election returns. A messenger appointed by authority of law to receive and carry a report, certificate or certified copy of any statement relating to the result of any election, who wilfully mutilates, tears, defaces, obliterates or destroys the same, or does any other act which prevents the delivery of it as required by law; and a person who takes away from such messenger any such report, certificate or certified copy, with intent to prevent its delivery, or who wilfully does any injury or other act in this section specified, is guilty of a felony.