1850 Mass. Gen. Law, ch. 194, §1.

Any person arrested upon the warrant of a magistrate, issued against him for any alleged offence against the laws of this Commonwealth, and any person committing any criminal offence aginst the laws of this Commonwealth, or any breach or disturbance of the public peace, who may, at the time of the commission of such offence, or breach or disturbance of the public peace, be arrested by any sheriff, deputy sheriff, constable, or police officer, in this State, and who shall, at the time of such arrest, be armed with any dangerous weapon, of the kind usually called slung shot, shall be punished by a fine not exceeding fifty dollars, or imprisonment in the common jail or house of correction for a term not exceeding one year.