A man from henceforth shall have a writ of waste in the chancery against him that holdeth by law, or otherwise for term of life, or for term of years; and he which shall be attainted of waste, shall lease the thing that he hath wasted, and moreover shall recompense thrice so much as the waste shall be taxed at.
6 Edw. 1, ch. 5, § 1, 1278; Kilty's Rep. 211; Alex. Br. Stat. 83; Comp. Stat. D.C., 319, § 21; Oct. 1, 1976, D.C. Law 1-87, § 41, 23 DCR 2544; Apr. 27, 2001, D.C. Law 13-292, § 804, 48 DCR 2087.