Whoever wilfully and maliciously tears, cuts or in any manner damages and impairs the usefulness for circulation of a bank bill or note of a bank in this commonwealth shall be punished by a fine of not more than ten dollars; but the possession or uttering of a bill so injured shall not be evidence against a party charged, unless connected with other circumstances tending to prove that the bill or note was injured by him.
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 267, § 25