"Whoever procures for prostitution, or causes to be prostituted, any
unmarried female who is under the age of sixteen years shall be
punished by imprisonment in the state prison not exceeding ten years."
Sec. 3537, Florida Statutes.
Procedure.
Present the facts within your knowledge of the alleged crime to the
State's Attorney of the county in which the crime is alleged to have
been committed.
GEORGIA.
The State of Georgia apparently has no law bearing upon the specific
crimes enumerated in the various other states. The attorney general for
the state writes as follows:
"Georgia has no law bearing upon the specific question in issue, but it
would be in the very nature of things a crime for any person or persons
to assist in inducing girls to houses of ill fame. They would at least
be particeps criminis, and under the general laws on the subject which
include all crimes, be punished as principals. Aside from that, as
stated, we have no law bearing directly on the subject."
IDAHO.
Every person who inveigles or entices any unmarried female, of previous
chaste character, under the age of eighteen years, into any house of
ill-fame, or of assignation, or elsewhere, for the purpose of
prostitution, or to have illicit carnal connection with any man; and
every person who aids or assists in such inveiglement or enticement, is
punishable by imprisonment in the state prison, not exceeding five
years, or by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year, or by
a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars, or by both such fine and
imprisonment.
Sec. 6770, Idaho Revised Code, Vol. 2, 1908.
Every person who takes away any female under the age of eighteen years
from her father, mother, guardian, or other person having the legal
charge of her person, without their consent, for the purpose of
prostitution, is punishable by imprisonment in the state prison not
exceeding five years, and a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars.
Sec. 6771. Id.
Any proprietor, keeper, manager, conductor, or person having the
control, of any house of prostitution, or any house or room resorted to
for the purpose of prostitution, who shall admit or keep any minor of
either sex therein, or any parent or guardian of any such minor who
shall admit or keep such minor, or sanction, or connive at the admission
or keeping thereof, into, or in any such house or room, shall be guilty
of a misdemeanor.
Sec. 6772. Id.
Procedure.
Present the facts in the case to the prosecuting attorney of the county
in which the crime is alleged to have been committed.
ILLINOIS.
It is believed that the statutes passed by the recent legislature of
Illinois present model laws which may well be copied by any state. These
laws are therefore published in full. They are as follows:
SESSION LAWS, 1909, P. 179.
An act to prevent the detention, by debt or otherwise, of female persons
in houses of prostitution or other places where prostitution is
practiced or allowed, and providing for the punishment thereof.
Section 1. Be it enacted by the people of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly. That whoever shall by any means
keep, hold, detain, against her will, or restrain any female person in a
house of prostitution or other place where prostitution is practiced or
allowed; or whoever shall, directly or indirectly, keep, hold, detain or
restrain or attempt to keep, hold, detain or restrain, in any house of
prostitution or other place where prostitution is practiced or allowed,
any female person, by any means, for the purpose of compelling such
female person, directly or indirectly, to pay, liquidate or cancel any
debt, dues or obligations incurred or said to have been incurred by such
female person, shall, upon conviction for the first offense under this
Act be punished by imprisonment in the county jail or House of
Correction for a period of not less than six months nor more than one
year, and by a fine of not less than three hundred dollars and not to
exceed one thousand dollars, and upon conviction for any subsequent
offense under this act shall be punished by imprisonment in the
penitentiary for a period of not less than one year nor more than five
years.
SESSION LAWS, 1909, PAGE 180.
An Act to amend an Act entitled "An Act in relation to pandering; to
define and prohibit the same; to provide for punishment thereof; for the
competency of certain evidence at the trial thereof, and providing what
shall be a defense," approved June 1, 1908; in force July 1, 1908, and
also the title of said Act.
Be it enacted by the people of the State of Illinois, represented in the
General Assembly. That an Act entitled "An Act in relation to pandering;
to define and prohibit the same; to provide for the punishment thereof;
for the competency of certain evidence at the trial therefor, and
providing what shall be a defense," approved June 1, 1908; in force July
1, 1908, including the title of said Act, be amended so as to read as
follows:
Section 1. Any person who shall procure a female inmate for a house of
prostitution, or who, by promises, threats, violence, or by any device
or scheme shall cause, induce, persuade or encourage a female person to
become an inmate of a house of prostitution; or shall procure a place as
inmate in a house of prostitution for a female person; or any person
who shall, by promises, threats, violence, or by any device or scheme
cause, induce, persuade or encourage an inmate of a house of
prostitution to remain therein as such inmate; or any person who shall,
by fraud or artifice, or by duress of person or goods, or by abuse of
any position of confidence or authority procure any female person to
become an inmate of a house of ill fame, or to enter any place in which
prostitution is encouraged or allowed within this State, or to come into
this State or leave this State for the purpose of prostitution, or who
shall procure any female person, who has not previously practiced
prostitution to become an inmate of a house of ill fame within this
State, or to come into this State or leave this State for the purpose of
prostitution; or shall receive or give or agree to receive or give any
money or thing of value for procuring or attempting to procure any
female person to become an inmate of a house of ill fame within this
State, or to come into this State or leave this State for the purpose of
prostitution, shall be guilty of pandering, and upon a first conviction
for an offense under this act shall be punished by imprisonment in the
County Jail or House of Correction for a period of not less than six
months nor more than one year, and by a fine of not less than three
hundred dollars and not to exceed one thousand dollars, and upon
conviction for any subsequent offense under this act shall be punished
by imprisonment in the penitentiary for a period of not less than one
year nor more than ten years.
Section 2. It shall not be a defense to a prosecution for any of the
acts prohibited in the foregoing section that any part of such act or
acts shall have been committed outside this State, and the offense shall
in such case be deemed and alleged to have been committed and the
offender tried and punished in any County in which the prostitution was
intended to be practiced, or in which the offense was consummated, or
any overt acts in furtherance of the offense should have been committed.
Section 3. Any such female person, referred to in the foregoing
sections, shall be a competent witness in any prosecution under this
Act, to testify for or against the accused as to any transaction or as
to any conversation with the accused or by him with another person or
persons in her presence, notwithstanding her having married the accused
before or after the violation of any of the provisions of this Act
whether called as a witness during the existence of the marriage or
after its dissolution.
Section 4. The act or state of marriage shall not be a defense to any
violation of this Act.
Procedure.
Report violation to the state's attorney of the county wherein the crime
was committed. If the state's attorney is not accessible, present the
matter to the nearest justice of the peace.
INDIANA.
In Indiana whoever entices or takes away any female of previous chaste
character to any place for the purpose of prostitution, shall be
imprisoned not less than two years nor more than five, or placed in the
county jail not exceeding one year and fined not exceeding five hundred
dollars. Section 459, Statutes 1907.
The keeper of a house of ill fame, or a person who lets a house for the
purpose of prostitution shall be punished by a fine of not less than ten
dollars nor more than one hundred to which may be added imprisonment not
exceeding six months in the county jail. Sec. 460, Statutes 1907.
"Whoever induces, decoys or procures or compels any female under
eighteen years of age, or causes any female over eighteen years of age,
against her will, to have sexual intercourse with any person other than
himself; or whoever knowingly permits any other person to have sexual
intercourse with any female of good repute or chastity upon premises
owned or controlled by him, shall be fined not less than ten dollars nor
more than five hundred dollars, to which may be added imprisonment in
the county jail not less than one month nor more than six months."
Section 469, Statutes 1907.
Any male person who frequents or visits a house or houses of ill fame or
of assignation except as a physician or who is engaged in or about the
house of prostitution, shall upon conviction be fined not less than ten
dollars nor more than one hundred dollars and imprisoned in the county
jail not less than ten days nor more than sixty days. Section 470,
Statutes 1907.
Procedure.
Present the facts to a justice of the peace or to the prosecuting
attorney of the county in which the crime was committed.
IOWA.
"If any person take or entice away any unmarried female under the age of
eighteen years for the purpose of prostitution, he shall be imprisoned
in the penitentiary not more than five years, or be fined not more than
one thousand dollars and imprisoned in the county jail not more than one
year."
Sec. 4760, Code of Iowa.
"That any person who shall ask, request, or solicit another to have
carnal knowledge with any female for a consideration or otherwise, shall
be punished by imprisonment in the penitentiary not exceeding five
years, or imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding one year, or by
a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars, or both, such fine and jail
imprisonment." Sec. 4975c. Code of Ia.
Procedure.
Present the facts within your knowledge of the alleged crime to the
county attorney of the county in which the crime is alleged to have
been committed.
LOUISIANA.
"That any person who shall fraudulently, deceitfully or by any false
representation, entice, abduct, induce, decoy, hire, engage, employ or
take any woman of previous chaste character from her father's house, or
from any other place where she may be, for the purpose of prostitution
or for any unlawful sexual intercourse, at a house of ill-fame or at any
other place of like character, or elsewhere, and any person who shall
knowingly or intentionally aid, abet, assist, devise or encourage any
such enticing, abduction, inducing, decoying, hiring, engaging,
employing or taking, shall on conviction be punished by imprisonment at
hard labor in the penitentiary for not more than five years.
"That any person who shall detain any woman against her will by force,
threats, putting in bodily fear, or by any other means, at a house of
ill-fame, or any other place of any other name or description, for the
purpose of prostitution or for any unlawful sexual intercourse; and any
person who shall aid, abet, advise, encourage or assist in any such
detention, shall on conviction be punished by imprisonment at hard labor
in the penitentiary for not more than five years.
"That any person who shall unlawfully and carnally know any female idiot
or insane or imbecile woman or girl, knowing her to be so, shall on
conviction be punished by imprisonment in the state penitentiary at hard
labor for not more than ten years." Act 134, 1890, Page 175.
Procedure.
If the crime is committed within the city of New Orleans, report the
matter to the Attorney General or to the District Attorney. If committed
outside the city of New Orleans, report the matter to the District
Attorney in whose jurisdiction the crime is alleged to have been
committed.
KANSAS.
It is unlawful for any person to take away any female under the age of
eighteen years from her father, mother, guardian, or other person having
charge of her person, without their consent, either for the purpose of
prostitution or living with her as a concubine. The punishment is
confinement at hard labor not to exceed five years. Section 2020,
General Statutes, 1901.
It is unlawful to entice, decoy, place, take or receive, any female
person under the age of eighteen years into any disorderly house for the
purpose of prostitution. Any person who has a child in his custody and
who shall dispose of it and shall place it where it can be used for an
obscene, indecent or immoral purpose, exhibition or practice, shall,
upon conviction, be confined in the penitentiary for not less than one
year or more than two years. Secs. 20-35, General Statutes, 1901.
Procedure.
Report violation to the county attorney of the county wherein the crime
was committed. The county attorney will prosecute the case.
KENTUCKY.
"Any person who shall be found guilty of inducing, persuading, aiding or
abetting, or enciting any female who has never been married, under the
age of twenty-one years, to enter a house of ill-fame, house of
prostitution, assignation or bawdy house, whereby such female so
induced, persuaded, aided or enticed, shall be seduced and lose her
virtue, shall, upon indictment and conviction, be confined in the
penitentiary not less than two, nor more than five years." Sec. 1215
Kentucky Statutes.
Procedure.
Present the facts within your knowledge of the alleged crime to the
county attorney of the county in which the crime is alleged to have been
committed.
MAINE.
"Whoever fraudulently and deceitfully entices or takes away an unmarried
female from her father's house, or wherever else she may be found, for
the purpose of prostitution at a house of ill-fame, assignation or
elsewhere, and whoever aids therein, or secretes such female for such
purposes; or whoever inveigles or entices any female, before reputed
virtuous, to a house of ill-fame, or knowingly conceals or aids in
concealing any such female, so enticed, for the purpose of prostitution
or lewdness, shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than one,
nor more than ten years." Chap. 125, Sec. 10, Revised Stat. Maine.
Procedure.
Present the facts within your knowledge of the alleged crime to the
County Attorney of the county in which the crime is alleged to have been
committed.
MARYLAND.
The Maryland code of public general laws contains the following statutes
relative to the subject in question:
Article 27 provides that any person who shall, for the purpose of
prostitution, forcibly abduct from the home of her parents or her usual
place of abode, any female under the age of eighteen years, shall upon
conviction be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and be punished by
imprisonment in the penitentiary for a term not exceeding eight years.
For keeping a bawdy house or house of ill-fame Section 18 provides a
fine of five hundred dollars or imprisonment in jail or the house of
correction for a period not exceeding one year, or both.
Sections 116 and 117 provide a fine of not less than $200.00 nor more
than $1,000.00, or confinement in jail or the house of correction for a
period of two months or not more than twelve months, or both fine and
imprisonment, for the lessee, manager, etc., of a music hall, resort or
other place of amusement, to employ, allow or engage female sitters who
may partake of any drink, eatables, refreshments, etc., at the expense
of some other or solicit others to purchase the same.
Procedure.
Report any violation of the above laws which come within your knowledge
to the proper prosecuting officer of the county in which the crime was
committed.
MASSACHUSETTS.
Whoever fraudulently and deceitfully entices or takes away an unmarried
woman of a chaste life from her father's house or whereever else she may
be found, for the purpose of prostitution or for the purpose of unlawful
sexual intercourse at a house of ill-fame or assignation or elsewhere,
and whoever aids and assists in such abduction for such purpose, shall
be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than three
years or in jail for not more than one year, or by a fine of not more
than one thousand dollars, or by both such fine and imprisonment in
jail.
Sec. 2, Chap. 212, Vol. 2; Revised Laws of Mass.,
1901.
Whoever, being the owner of a place or having or assisting in the
management or control thereof, induces or knowingly suffers a female
under the age of twenty-one years to resort to or be in or upon such
place, for the purpose of unlawfully having sexual intercourse, shall be
punished as provided in Section 3.
Sec. 6. Id.
Whoever knowingly sends, or aids or abets in sending, a woman or girl to
enter as an inmate or a servant, a house of ill-fame or other place
resorted to for the purpose of prostitution shall for each offense be
punished by a fine of not less than one hundred, nor more than five
hundred dollars, or by imprisonment for not less than three months nor
more than two years. Whoever as proprietor or keeper of an intelligence
or employment office, either personally or through an agent or employe,
sends a woman or girl to enter as aforesaid a house of ill-fame or other
place resorted to for the purpose of prostitution, the character of
which on reasonable inquiry could have been ascertained by him, shall
for each offense be punished by a fine of not less than fifty nor more
than two hundred dollars.
Section 8. Id.
Whoever, for any length of time, unlawfully detains or attempts to
detain, or aids or abets in unlawfully detaining or attempting to
detain, or administers or aids in administering any drug for the purpose
of detaining, a woman or girl in a house of ill-fame or other place
resorted to for the purpose of prostitution, shall for each offense be
punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than five
years or in the house of correction for not less than one year, nor more
than three years, or by a fine of not less than one hundred nor more
than five hundred dollars.
Section 9. Id.
Procedure.
Present the matter to the prosecuting attorney of the county in which
the crime is alleged to have been committed.
MICHIGAN.
"Every person who shall take or entice away any female under the age of
sixteen years, from her father, mother, guardian, or other person having
the legal charge of her person, without their consent, either for the
purpose of prostitution, concubinage, or marriage, shall be punished by
imprisonment in the state prison not exceeding three years, or by
imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year, or by a fine not
exceeding one thousand dollars." Sec. 11493, Comp. Laws, 1897.
"Every person who shall keep a house of ill-fame, resorted to for the
purpose of prostitution or lewdness, and every person who shall solicit,
or in any manner induce a female to enter such house for the purpose of
becoming a prostitute, or shall by force, fraud, deceit, or in any like
manner procure a female to enter such house for the purpose of
prostitution, or of becoming a prostitute, shall be deemed guilty of a
felony, and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by imprisonment in
the state prison not more than five years, or in the county jail not
more than one year, or by fine not exceeding one thousand dollars, or by
both such fine and imprisonment, in the discretion of the court." Sec.
11697, Comp. Laws, 1897.
"That it shall be unlawful for any person or persons, for any purpose
whatever, to take or convey to, or to employ, receive, detain or suffer
to remain in any house of prostitution, house of ill-fame, bawdy-house,
house of assignation, or in any house or place for the resort of
prostitutes or other disorderly persons, any female of the age of
seventeen years or under." Sec. 11725, Comp. Laws, 1897.
Procedure.
Present the facts within your knowledge of the alleged crime to the
prosecuting attorney of the county in which the crime is alleged to have
been committed.
MINNESOTA.
The statutes of Minnesota provide an imprisonment of not more than two
years, or a fine of not less than two hundred dollars or more than two
thousand dollars, for any person who induces, entices or procures, or
attempts to induce, entice, or procure, any female person to come into
the state for the purpose of prostitution or any other immoral purpose,
or, being a resident of the state, to induce, entice or procure a female
person to enter a house of ill fame, assignation or prostitution.
Chapter 404-H. F. No. 996.
Whoever shall hold, detain or restrain, in any house of ill fame or
prostitution, any female person for the purpose of compelling her to
pay, liquidate or cancel any debt, dues or obligations incurred or said
to have been incurred in the house of ill fame or prostitution of which
she is an inmate, shall be imprisoned in the state prison for not more
than two years. Chapter 461-H. F. No. 998.
Whoever knowingly accepts or receives any of his or her support or
maintenance of the proceeds or earnings of a woman engaged in
prostitution, shall be imprisoned in the state penitentiary not less
than one year nor more than three years. Chapter 475-H. F. No. 999.
Procedure.
Present the facts to the prosecuting attorney of the county in which the
crime is alleged to have been committed.
MISSISSIPPI.
The statutes of Mississippi punish any person who shall take any female
under the age of fourteen years, against her will, and by force, menace,
fraud, deceit, stratagem or duress, compel or induce her to be defiled,
by imprisonment in the penitentiary not less than five nor more than
fifteen years. Section 1025, Statutes of Mississippi.
Every person who takes, carries away, decoys or entices any child under
fourteen years of age from its parents or other person having charge of
such child, for the purpose of prostitution or other immoral purpose,
shall upon conviction be imprisoned in the penitentiary not exceeding
ten years or in the county jail not more than one year or fined not more
than one thousand dollars, or both. Section 1079, Statutes of
Mississippi.
Any person who shall seduce and have illicit connection with any female
child under the age of eighteen years, of previous chaste character,
shall upon conviction be imprisoned in the penitentiary not more than
ten years; but the testimony of the female seduced alone shall not be
sufficient for conviction. Section 1081, Statutes of Mississippi.
Procedure.
Prosecution under the above statutes may be commenced by making
affidavit before a justice of the peace, setting forth the crime alleged
to have been committed. The justice may then hear the matter and impose
sentence if within his authority, or, if not, bind the accused to await
the action of the grand jury. If the grand jury is in session the
evidence should be submitted to this body and request for indictment
made.
MISSOURI.
If any person shall, by any fraudulent representations, artifice or
deception, decoy, entice or take away any female of previous chaste
character from where she may be to a house of ill-fame or brothel or
elsewhere, for the purpose of prostitution, and every person who shall
advise or assist in such abduction shall be deemed guilty of a felony,
and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by imprisonment in the
penitentiary not exceeding five years, or by imprisonment in the county
jail not exceeding six months or by a fine of not less than fifty
dollars, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
Missouri Annotated Statutes, 1906, Sec. 1843.
MONTANA.
Every person who takes away any female under the age of eighteen years
from her father, mother, guardian or other person having the legal
charge of her person, without their consent, for the purpose of
prostitution, is punishable by imprisonment in the state prison not
exceeding five years, and a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars.
Sec. 8343, Revised Codes of Montana, 1907.
Any proprietor, keeper, manager, conductor or person having the control
of any house of prostitution, or any house or room resorted to for the
purpose of prostitution, who shall admit or keep any minor of either
sex therein, or any parent or guardian of any such minor who shall admit
or keep such minor, or sanction or connive at the admission or keeping
thereof into or in any such house or room shall be guilty of a
misdemeanor.
Sec. 8378. Id.
Procedure.
Report violation to the prosecuting attorney of the county in which the
crime is alleged to have been committed.
NEBRASKA.
"That it shall be unlawful for any person or persons to allow, keep,
maintain or harbor any girl under eighteen (18) years of age, or any boy
under twenty-one (21) years of age in any house of ill-fame or any house
of bad repute, and any person found guilty of violating any of the
provisions of this act shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and, on
conviction thereof, shall be fined in any sum not exceeding one hundred
($100.00) dollars, nor less than twenty-five ($25.00) dollars, or be
imprisoned in the county jail not more than thirty (30) days, and shall
stand committed until such fine and costs are paid." Sec. 3755, Comp.
Stat., Anno., 1909.
"If any person or persons shall induce, decoy, entice, hire, engage,
employ, or compel any female under eighteen years of age; or if any
person or persons shall cause, by compulsion or otherwise, any female
over eighteen years of age, against her will, to have illicit carnal
intercourse with any person other than the person so inducing, decoying,
enticing, hiring, engaging, employing, or causing such female to have
such illicit carnal intercourse; or if any person or persons shall
knowingly permit or allow any other person to have illicit intercourse
with any female of good repute for chastity, at the house, residence, or
upon the premises owned or controlled by such person or persons, the
person or persons so offending shall be imprisoned in the penitentiary
for not more than five years." Sec. 7876, Comp. Stat., Anno., 1909.
Procedure.
Present the facts within your knowledge of the alleged crime to the
County Attorney of the county in which the crime is alleged to have been
committed.
NEVADA.
Every person who shall take any woman unlawfully, against her will, and
by force, menace or duress, compel her to marry him, or to marry any
other person, or to be defiled, and shall be thereof convicted, shall be
punished by imprisonment in the state prison for a term not less than
two, nor more than fourteen years; and the record of such conviction
shall operate as a divorce to the party so married.
Sec. 4707, Compiled Laws of Nevada, 1861-1900, inc.
Procedure.
Report violation to the District Attorney for the district in which the
crime is alleged to have been committed.
NEW HAMPSHIRE.
New Hampshire has the following statute:
If any person shall wilfully or deceitfully entice or carry away a
female child under the age of eighteen years with the intent or for the
purpose of prostitution or illicit sexual intercourse, he shall be
imprisoned not exceeding three years and be fined not exceeding five
thousand dollars.
Sec. 8, Ch. 272, Public Statutes, New Hampshire.
Procedure.
The prosecuting officers in New Hampshire are the select men of the
various towns, the solicitors of cities and counties, and the attorney
general of the state. In case a violation becomes known to you it should
be reported to one or the other of these officials for proper action.
NEW JERSEY.
Any person who shall convey or take away any woman child, unmarried,
whether legitimate or illegitimate, under the age of sixteen years, out
or from the possession, custody or governance, and against the will of
the father, mother, or guardian of such woman child, though with her
own consent, with an intent to contract matrimony with her, or with an
intent to carnally abuse her, or to use her for immoral purposes, or to
cause or procure her to be carnally abused by another or to be used for
immoral purposes by another, his aiders and abettors, shall be guilty of
a misdemeanor; and if he contract matrimony with her, without the
consent of her father, mother or guardian, he shall be guilty of a high
misdemeanor; and every such marriage shall be void; and any person who
shall permit, suffer or procure any woman child under the age of sixteen
years, whether single or married, with or without her consent, to be
carnally abused by another or to be used for immoral purposes by
another, in any house, room or place, public or private, kept by or
under the control or management of such person, shall be guilty of a
high misdemeanor.
Sec. 117, Ch. 65, Session Laws of New Jersey, 1906.
Procedure.
Report violation to the prosecutor of pleas of the county in which the
crime is alleged to have been committed.
NEW MEXICO.
"Any person or persons who shall entice away and seduce or carry off any
woman, who may be a minor under the care of her parents, relations or
guardian; such persons who shall so do, or shall have them in their
possession for evil purposes, upon complaint of any person, shall be
fined in any sum not exceeding one hundred dollars, nor less than
eighty, or with imprisonment for any term not exceeding one year, nor
less than eight months." Sec. 1349, Comp. Laws of N. M., 1897.
"Any father, or mother, or guardian, who shall surrender up in bad
faith, any woman under their charge, on complaint being made thereof,
shall be punished as prescribed in Section 1349." Sec. 1350, Comp. Laws
of N. M., 1897.
Procedure.
Present the facts within your knowledge of the alleged crime to the
District Attorney of the county in which the crime is alleged to have
been committed.
NEW YORK.
Sec. 2460. Compulsory prostitution of women.
1. Any person who shall place any female in the charge or custody of any
other person for immoral purposes or in a house of prostitution with
intent that she shall live a life of prostitution; or any person who
shall compel any female to reside with him or with any other person for
immoral purposes, or for the purposes of prostitution or shall compel
any such female to reside in a house of prostitution or compel her to
live a life of prostitution is punishable by a fine of not less than
one thousand dollars nor more than five thousand dollars, or by
imprisonment for not less than one year nor more than three years or by
both such fine and such imprisonment.
"2. Any person who shall receive any money or other valuable thing for
or on account of placing in a house of prostitution or elsewhere any
female for the purpose of causing her to cohabit with any male person or
persons to whom she is not married shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
"3. Any person who shall pay any money or other valuable thing to
procure any female for the purpose of placing her for immoral purposes
in any house of prostitution or elsewhere against her will, shall be
fined not less than one thousand dollars nor more than five thousand
dollars, and be imprisoned for a period not less than one year, nor more
than three years.
"4. Every person who shall knowingly receive any money or other valuable
thing for or on account of procuring and placing in the custody of
another person for immoral purposes any woman, with or without her
consent, is punishable by imprisonment not exceeding five years and a
fine not exceeding one thousand dollars."
"A person who:
"Takes, receives, employes, harbors or uses, or causes or procures to be
taken, received, employed or harbored or used, a female under the age
of eighteen years, for the purpose of prostitution; or, not being her
husband, for the purpose of sexual intercourse; or, without the consent
of her father, mother, guardian or other person having legal charge of
her person, for the purpose of marriage; or,
"Inveigles or entices an unmarried female, of previous chaste character
into a house of ill-fame, or of assignation, or elsewhere, for the
purpose of prostitution or sexual intercourse; or,
"Takes or detains a female unlawfully against her will, with the intent
to compel her, by force, menace or duress, to marry him, or to marry any
other person, or to be defiled; or,
"Being parent, guardian or other person having legal charge of the
person of a female under the age of eighteen years, consents to her
taking or detaining by any person for the purpose of prostitution or
sexual intercourse;
"Is guilty of abduction and punishable by imprisonment for not more than
ten years, or by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars, or by
both." Sec. 70, Cons. Laws of N. Y., 1909, Vol. 41.
Procedure.
Present the facts within your knowledge of the alleged crime to the
District Attorney of the county in which the crime is alleged to have
been committed.
NORTH CAROLINA.
"If any person shall unlawfully carnally know or abuse any female child
over ten and under fourteen years of age, who has never before had
sexual intercourse with any person, he shall be guilty of a felony and
fined or imprisoned in the state prison, in the discretion of the
court." Sec. 3348, Vol. 2, Pell's Revisal of 1908.
"If anyone shall conspire to abduct, or by any means shall induce any
child under the age of fourteen years, who shall reside with any of the
persons designated in the preceding section, or at school, to leave the
persons aforesaid or the school, he shall be guilty of a like offense,
and on conviction shall be punished as prescribed in the preceding
section; Provided, that no one who may be a nearer blood relation to the
child than the persons named in said section, shall be indicted for
either of said offenses." Sec. 3359, Vol. 2, Pell's Revisal of 1908.
Procedure.
Present the facts within your knowledge of the alleged crime to the
Prosecuting Officer of the county in which the crime is alleged to have
been committed.
NORTH DAKOTA.
"Every person who inveigles or entices any unmarried female of previous
chaste character, into any house of ill-fame or of assignation or
elsewhere, for the purpose of prostitution, and every person who aids or
assists in such abduction for such purpose, is punishable by
imprisonment in the penitentiary for not less than one and not exceeding
five years, or by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding one
year, or by a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars, or by both such
fine and imprisonment." Sec. 8899, Laws of North Dakota, 1909.
"Any person who shall detain any woman against her will by force,
threats, putting in bodily fear, or by any other means, at a house of
ill-fame, or any other place of any other name or description, for the
purpose of prostitution, or for unlawful sexual intercourse, or who
shall aid, abet, advise, encourage or assist in such detention, shall be
guilty of a felony, and upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by
imprisonment in the state penitentiary for a period not to exceed three
years, or by imprisonment in the county jail not to exceed one year, or
by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars, or by both such fine and
imprisonment." Act of March 16, 1909.
"Every person who takes any woman unlawfully against her will, with the
intent to compel her by force, menace or duress to marry him, or to
marry any other person, or to be defiled, is punishable by imprisonment
in the penitentiary not less than one and not exceeding ten years." Sec.
8898, Revised Codes of N. D., 1905.
"Every person who inveigles or entices any unmarried female of
previously chaste character under the age of twenty years, into any
house of ill-fame or of assignation or elsewhere, for the purpose of
prostitution, and every person who aids or assists any such abduction
for such purpose, is punishable by imprisonment in the penitentiary not
less than one and not exceeding five years, or by imprisonment in the
county jail not exceeding one year, or by a fine not exceeding one
thousand dollars, or by both such fine and imprisonment." Sec. 8899,
Rev. Codes of N. D., 1905.
"Every person who takes away any female under the age of eighteen years,
from her father, mother, guardian or other person having the legal
charge of her person, without the consent of such father, mother,
guardian or other person having the legal charge of her person, or any
friendless female under the age of eighteen years, either for the
purpose of concubinage or prostitution, is punishable by imprisonment in
the penitentiary not less than one and not exceeding five years, or in
the county jail not exceeding one year, or by fine not exceeding one
thousand dollars, or by both." 8900, Rev. Codes of N. D., 1905.
Procedure.
Present the facts within your knowledge of the alleged crime to the
state's attorney of the county in which the crime is alleged to have
been committed.
OHIO.
"Whoever induces, decoys or procures any female person under eighteen
years of age to have sexual intercourse with any person other than
himself, or to enter any house of assignation or any house of ill-fame
for the purpose of seduction or prostitution, or knowingly permits any
person to have illicit intercourse with any female person, of good
repute for chastity, upon premises owned or controlled by him, or any
keeper of a house of assignation or house of ill-fame, who detains or
harbors therein any female person under eighteen years of age, shall be
imprisoned in the penitentiary not more than five years nor less than
one year." Sec. 7023, Bates Anno., Ohio Stat., Vol. 3, p. 3387.
"Whoever, in a wine room, saloon, or restaurant, or elsewhere, gives,
offers or furnishes to any female of good repute for chastity, over
eighteen years of age, or to any female under eighteen years of age, any
wine or other intoxicating liquors, with intent thereby to enable
himself to have sexual intercourse, or to aid or assist any person in
accomplishing or having sexual intercourse with such female, shall be
imprisoned in the penitentiary not more than three years nor less than
one year." Sec. 7023a, Bates Anno., Ohio Stat., Vol. 3, p. 3387.
Procedure.
Present the facts within your knowledge of the alleged crime to the
Prosecuting Attorney of the county in which the crime is alleged to have
been committed.
OKLAHOMA.
"Whoever takes any woman unlawfully against her will, with the intent to
compel her by force, menace or duress, to marry him, or to marry any
other person, or to be defiled, is punishable by imprisonment not
exceeding ten years." Sec. 1824, Gen. Stat. Okla., 1908, Anno.
"Whoever inveigles or entices an unmarried female of previous chaste
character under the age of twenty-five years, into any house of ill-fame
or of assignation, or elsewhere, for the purpose of prostitution, and
every person who aids or assists in such abduction for such purpose, is
punishable by imprisonment not exceeding five years, or by imprisonment
not less than one year, or by a fine not exceeding one thousand
dollars, or by both such fine and imprisonment." Sec. 1825, Gen. Stat.
Okla., 1908, Anno.
"Whoever takes away any female under the age of fifteen years, from her
father, mother, guardian or other person having the legal charge of her
person, without their consent, either for the purpose of marriage,
concubinage or prostitution, is punishable by imprisonment not exceeding
five years or by imprisonment not less than one year, or by a fine not
exceeding one thousand dollars, or by both such fine and imprisonment."
Sec. 1826, Gen. Stat. Okla., 1908, Anno.
Procedure.
Present the facts within your knowledge of the alleged crime to the
County Attorney of the county in which the crime is alleged to have been
committed.
OREGON.
"If any person shall take away any female under the age of sixteen years
from her father, mother, guardian, or other person having the legal
charge of her person, without the consent of such father, mother,
guardian or other person, either for the purpose of marriage,
concubinage, or prostitution, such person, upon conviction thereof,
shall be punished by imprisonment in the penitentiary not less than one
nor more than two years, or by imprisonment in the county jail not less
than three months nor more than one year, or by fine not less than one
hundred nor more than five hundred dollars." Sec. 1928, Ballinger &
Cotton's Anno. Codes & Stat. of Oregon, Vol. 1.
"Any male person who lives with a prostitute, or who lives in whole or
in part off of, or accepts any of the earnings of a prostitute, or
solicits or attempts to solicit any male person or persons to have
sexual intercourse with a prostitute, shall be deemed guilty of a
felony, and upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by imprisonment
in the penitentiary not less than one year nor more than five years, or
by fine in any sum not less than one thousand dollars nor more than five
thousand dollars." Act Feb. 11, 1905.
Procedure.
Present the facts within your knowledge of the alleged crime to the
Prosecuting or District Attorney of the county in which the crime is
alleged to have been committed.
PENNSYLVANIA.
Pennsylvania enacted on May first last, one of the statutes recommended
by the committee for the several states. It is the act aimed at the
procurer, and is as follows:
Be it enacted, etc., That any person whosoever, who shall induce,
entice, or procure, or attempt to induce, entice, or procure, into the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, any woman or girl, for the purpose of
prostitution, or for any other immoral purpose, shall be guilty of a
misdemeanor, and, upon conviction, be imprisoned for a period of not
less than one or more than five years, and be fined not exceeding five
thousand dollars.
Procedure.
Application should be made to the proper prosecuting officer of the
county in which the crime is alleged to have been committed.
RHODE ISLAND.
Rhode Island presents some excellent statutes. They are particularly
broad and comprehensive. They are as follows:
Whoever shall unlawfully and carnally know and abuse any girl under the
age of sixteen years shall be imprisoned not exceeding fifteen years.
Ch. 281, Sec. 3, Revised Statutes of Rhode Island,
1896.
Whoever shall attempt to have unlawful carnal knowledge of any girl
under the age of sixteen years shall be imprisoned not exceeding ten
years.
Ch. 281, Sec. 4, Id.
Whoever by threats or intimidation procures or induces, or attempts to
procure or induce, any woman or girl to have any unlawful carnal
connection either with himself or with any other person, or by false
pretenses, false representations or other fraudulent means, procures or
induces any woman or girl, not being a common prostitute or of known
immoral character, to have unlawful carnal connection, either with
himself or with any other person, or applies, administers to, or causes
to be taken by any woman or girl any drug, matter or thing with intent
to stupefy or overpower so as thereby to enable himself or any other
person to have unlawful carnal connection with such woman or girl, or,
being above the age of eighteen years, shall by any means whatsoever
procure or induce any girl under the age of eighteen years, and not of
known immoral character, to have any unlawful carnal connection either
with himself or with any other person, shall be imprisoned not exceeding
five years: Provided, however, that no person shall be convicted of an
offense under this section upon the evidence of one witness only, unless
such witness be corroborated by other evidence.
Ch. 281, Sec. 5. Id.
Every person who shall inveigle or entice any woman or female child,
before reputed virtuous, or any female child under fourteen years of age
not proven by the defendant to have been of previous bad character, to a
house of ill-fame, or who shall knowingly conceal, or aid or abet in
concealing any such woman or female child so inveigled or enticed, for
the purpose of prostitution or lewdness, shall be imprisoned not
exceeding five years or be fined not exceeding five thousand dollars.
Ch. 281, Sec. 6. Id.
Whenever there is reason to believe that any woman, or female child, has
been inveigled or enticed to a house of ill-fame as aforesaid, upon
complaint thereof being made, under oath, by any overseer of the poor,
sheriff, deputy sheriff, town sergeant or constable, or by the parent,
master or guardian of such woman or female child, to any justice or
clerk of a district court authorized to issue such warrants, such
justice or clerk may issue his warrant, to enter by day or night, such
house or houses of ill-fame, and to search for such woman, or female
child, and to bring her and the person in whose possession or keeping
she may be found, before such district court, who may, on examination,
order her to be delivered to such overseer, parent, master or guardian,
or to be discharged, as law and justice may require.
Ch. 281, Sec. 7. Id.
Procedure.
If a violation is alleged to have occurred within the county in which
you reside, present the matter to a justice or to any clerk of a
district court of the state, and he will issue a warrant for the arrest
of the defendant and proceed to prosecute the case.
SOUTH CAROLINA.
"Whoever, above the age of fourteen years, shall unlawfully take or
convey, or cause to be taken or conveyed, any maid or woman-child
unmarried, being within the age of sixteen years, out of or from the
possession and against the will of the father or mother of such child,
or out of or from the possession and against the will of such person or
persons as then shall happen to have, by any lawful ways or means, the
order, keeping, education, or governance of any such maiden or
woman-child, shall, on conviction, suffer imprisonment for the space of
two years or else shall pay such fine as shall be adjudged by the
court."--Sec. 287, Crim. Code.
"Whoever shall so take away, or cause to be taken away, as aforesaid,
and defiles any such maid or woman-child, as aforesaid, or shall,
against the will or unknowing of or to the father of any such maid or
woman-child, if the father be in life, or against the will or unknowing
of the mother of any such maid or woman-child (having the custody or
governance, of such child, if the father be dead), by secret letters,
messages, or otherwise, contract matrimony with any such maid or
woman-child, shall, on conviction, suffer imprisonment for five years,
or shall pay such fine as shall be adjudged by the court; one moiety of
which fine shall be for the State, and the other moiety to the parties
grieved." Sec. 288, Criminal Code.
Procedure.
Present the facts within your knowledge of the alleged crime to the
Prosecuting Attorney of the county in which the crime is alleged to have
been committed.
SOUTH DAKOTA.
It is unlawful to inveigle or entice an unmarried female of previous
chaste character under the age of twenty-five years, into any house or
other place for the purpose of prostitution. The law punishes a person
thus guilty, and every person who aids or assists in such violation, by
confinement of not less than five nor more than twenty years in the
state prison, or a fine of $1,000, or both such fine and imprisonment.
Section 334, Revised Penal Code, 1903, as amended.
Every person who takes away any female under the age of eighteen years
from her father, mother, guardian or other person having the legal
charge of such female, without their consent, either for marriage or
prostitution or concubinage, is also punishable by the same imprisonment
and fine. Section 335, Revised Penal Code, 1903, as amended.
Every person who, under promise of marriage, seduces or has illicit
connection with any unmarried female of previous chaste character, is
punishable by imprisonment in the state prison, by the same fine and
imprisonment as provided under section 334. Section 336, Revised Penal
Code, as amended.
Procedure.
Present the facts to the prosecuting attorney of the county in which the
crime is alleged to have been committed.
TENNESSEE.
Any person who inveigles or entices any female, before reputed virtuous,
to a house of ill-fame, or knowingly conceals, or aids and abets in
concealing, such female so deluded or enticed, for the purpose of
prostitution or lewdness, shall be punished by imprisonment in the
penitentiary not less than two nor more than ten years.
Sec. 6768, Shannon's Code, 1896.
Any person who takes any female from her father, mother, guardian or
other person having the legal charge of her without her consent, for the
purpose of prostitution or concubinage, shall, upon conviction, be
imprisoned in the penitentiary not less than ten nor more than
twenty-one years.
Sec. 6462. Id.
Procedure.
Present the matter to the county attorney of the county in which the
crime is alleged to have been committed.
TEXAS.
"Abduction" is the false imprisonment of a woman with intent to force
her into a marriage or for the purpose of prostitution.
Article 629, Ch. 6. Revised Statutes of Texas, 1896.
If a female under the age of fourteen be taken for the purpose of
marriage or prostitution from her parent, guardian or other person
having the legal charge of her, it is abduction, whether she consent or
not, and although a marriage afterward takes place between the parties.
Section 630. Id.
The offense of abduction is complete if the female be detained as long
as twelve hours, although she may afterwards be relieved from such
detention without marriage or prostitution.
Section 631. Id.
Any person who shall be guilty of abduction shall be punished by fine
not exceeding two thousand dollars. If by reason of such abduction a
woman be forced into marriage, the punishment shall be confinement in
the penitentiary not less than two nor more than five years; and if by
reason of such abduction a woman be prostituted, the punishment shall be
confinement in the penitentiary not less than three nor more than twenty
years.
Section 632. Id.
Procedure.
Report the alleged violation to the District Attorney or the county
attorney within the district or county where the crime is alleged to
have been committed. The matter may also be presented to a justice of
the peace, in which event the county attorney should be notified.
UTAH.
The statutes of Utah have been strengthened by a recent enactment which
prohibits the sending of female help to places of ill-repute. This
section is as follows:
Any employment agent who shall knowingly send out any female help to any
place of bad repute, house of ill-fame or assignation house, or to any
house or place of amusement kept for immoral purposes, shall be liable
to pay a fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100), and shall be
imprisoned not less than ninety days and on conviction thereof, in any
court, shall have his, its or their license rescinded.
Chapter 21, Sec. 6, Laws of Utah, 1909.
Other portions of the statutes of Utah which directly affect the subject
of white slavery are as follows:
Every person who inveigles or entices any female of previous chaste
character into any house of ill-fame, or of assignation, or elsewhere,
for the purpose of prostitution, or to have carnal connection with any
male, and every person who aids or assists such abduction for such
purposes, is punishable by imprisonment in the state prison not
exceeding five years, or by imprisonment in the county jail not
exceeding one year, or by a fine not exceeding $1,000 or by both.
Sec. 4222, Compiled Laws of Utah, 1907.
Every person who takes away any female under the age of eighteen years
from her father, mother, guardian, or other person having the legal
charge of her person, with or without their consent, for the purpose of
prostitution, is punishable by imprisonment in the state prison not
exceeding five years, or by a fine not exceeding $1,000, or both.
Sec. 4223. Id.
Procedure.
The proper procedure to be taken is to present the matter to the
prosecuting attorney of the county in which the crime was committed.
Full detailed information respecting the proper procedure under these
statutes may be found by referring to Title 91, Ch. 1, Laws of Utah,
1907.
VERMONT.
A person who keeps a house of ill-fame, resorted to for the purpose of
prostitution or lewdness, whether the same be occupied or frequented by
one or more females, shall be imprisoned not more than four years, or
fined not more than three hundred dollars.
Sec. 5893, Public Statutes of Vermont, 1906.
Procedure.
Present the facts in the case to the state's attorney of the county in
which the crime is alleged to have been committed.
VIRGINIA.
If any person take away or detain, against her will, any female with
intent to marry or defile her, or cause her to be married or defiled by
another person, or take from any person, having lawful charge of her, a
female under sixteen years of age, for the purpose of concubinage or
prostitution, he shall be confined in the penitentiary not less than
three nor more than ten years; and every person who shall assist or aid
in such abduction or detention for such purpose, shall be guilty of a
felony, and shall, upon conviction thereof, be punished by confinement
in the penitentiary not less than two nor more than five years.
Sec. 3678, Virginia Code, 1904.
Procedure.
Report alleged violation to a justice of the peace or the prosecuting
attorney in the county in which the crime is alleged to have been
committed.
WASHINGTON.
If any person take or entice away any unmarried female under the age of
eighteen years from her father, mother, guardian, or other person having
the legal charge of her person, without their consent, for the purpose
of prostitution, he shall upon conviction, be punished with imprisonment
in the penitentiary for not more than three years, or by a fine of not
more than two thousand dollars, and imprisonment in the county jail not
more than one year.
Sec. 7065, Ballinger's Code, 1897.
It shall be unlawful for any child or children, boy or girl, under the
age of eighteen years, to enter into or become an inmate of any house or
houses of prostitution, or room or rooms where the same is conducted,
either as messengers, servants, or for any other purpose whatever,
whether the same be under license or otherwise.
Sec. 7254, Ballinger's Code, 1897.
Any person or persons owning, operating, or maintaining any of the
places enumerated in the three preceding sections of this chapter,
permitting or allowing in any way whatever any child or children, boy or
girl, under eighteen years of age, to enter the same, shall be deemed
guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be fined in a
sum not less than fifty dollars, or by imprisonment in the county jail
not exceeding ninety days, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
Sec. 7256. Id.
Every person who--
1. Shall take a female under the age of eighteen years for the purpose
of prostitution or sexual intercourse, or without the consent of her
father, mother, guardian or other person having legal charge of her
person, for the purpose of marriage; or,
2. Shall inveigle or entice an unmarried female of previously chaste
character into a house of ill-fame or assignation, or elsewhere, for the
purpose of prostitution; or,
3. Shall take or detain a woman unlawfully against her will, with intent
to compel her by force, menace or duress, to marry him or another
person, or to be defiled; or,
4. Being the parent, guardian or other person having legal charge of the
person of a female under the age of eighteen years, shall consent to her
taking or detention by any person for the purpose of prostitution or
sexual intercourse or for any obscene, indecent or immoral purpose;
Shall be guilty of abduction and punished by imprisonment in the state
penitentiary for not more than ten years or by a fine of not more than
one thousand dollars, or by both.
Sec. 187, Chap. 249, Session Laws of Washington,
1909.
Every person who--
1. Shall place a female in the charge or custody of another person for
immoral purposes, or in a house of prostitution, with intent that she
shall live a life of prostitution, or who shall compel any female to
reside with him or with any other person for immoral purposes, or for
the purposes of prostitution; or,
2. Shall ask or receive any compensation, gratuity or reward, or promise
thereof, for or on account of placing in a house of prostitution or
elsewhere, any female for the purpose of causing her to cohabit with any
male person or persons not her husband; or,
3. Shall give, offer, or promise any compensation, gratuity or reward,
to procure any female for the purpose of placing her for immoral
purposes in any house of prostitution, or elsewhere, against her will;
or,
4. Being the husband of any woman, or the parent, guardian or other
person having legal charge of the person of a female under the age of
eighteen years, shall connive at, consent to, or permit her being or
remaining in any house of prostitution or leading a life of
prostitution; or,
5. Shall live with or accept any earnings of a woman prostitute, or
entice or solicit any person to go to a house of prostitution for any
immoral purpose, or to have sexual intercourse with a woman prostitute;
Shall be punished by imprisonment in the state penitentiary for not more
than five years, or by a fine of not more than two thousand dollars.
Sec. 188. Id.
Procedure.
Report the facts of the case to the prosecuting attorney of the county
in which the crime is alleged to have been committed.
WEST VIRGINIA.
If any person take away or detain against her will a female, with intent
to marry or defile her, or cause her to be married or defiled by another
person, or take from any person having lawful charge of her, a female
child under fourteen years of age, for the purpose of prostitution or
concubinage, he shall be confined in the penitentiary not less than
three nor more than ten years.
Sec. 4215, West Virginia Code, 1906.
Procedure.
Report the facts of the alleged crime within your knowledge to the
nearest justice of the peace of the county in which the crime was
committed, or refer the matter to the prosecuting attorney of the same
county.
WISCONSIN.
The Wisconsin laws are particularly far reaching. The extent and broad
scope of the statutes of this state may be seen upon reading the
statutes verbatim, which are herewith given. They are as follows:
Section 4581a. Any person who, by force, threats, promises or any other
means or inducements, shall entice, inveigle, solicit, induce or take
any unmarried female of previous chaste character of the age of sixteen
years or under from her father, mother, guardian or other person having
the legal care or custody of any such female, or from her home or other
place of abode, wherever she may be, for the purpose of seduction,
prostitution, or with intent to seduce, defile, deflower, or for the
purpose of entering, causing, inducing or procuring her to enter any
house of ill fame, assignation or other place of prostitution, for the
purpose of prostitution, either temporarily or as an inmate of any such
house or place, and any person who shall directly or indirectly cause,
procure, aid, assist, knowingly permit or abet in any manner the
seduction, defilement, deflowering or the having of illicit intercourse
with any such female by any person, either at her home or other place of
abode or elsewhere, shall be punished by imprisonment in the state
prison not more than ten years nor less than one year or by fine not
exceeding one thousand dollars.
Section 4581b. Any person who shall fraudulently, deceitfully or by any
false representations entice, abduct, induce, decoy, hire, engage,
employ or take any woman over sixteen years of age and of previous
chaste character from her father's house or from any other place where
she may be for the purpose aforesaid shall be punished by imprisonment
in the state prison not less than five years nor more than fifteen
years.
Section 4581c. Any person who shall, by any such means as are mentioned
in the next preceding section, entice, abduct, induce, decoy, hire,
engage, employ or take in any manner any female from her home or from
any other place where she may be, for the purpose of prostitution or for
unlawful sexual intercourse, and any person who shall knowingly or
intentionally aid, abet, assist, advise or encourage the doing of any
such act for the purpose aforesaid shall be punished by imprisonment in
the state prison not more than five years nor less than one year.
Section 4581d. Any person who shall detain any woman against her will by
force, threats, putting in bodily fear or by any other means at a house
of ill fame or any other place of any name or description whatever, for
the purpose of prostitution or for unlawful sexual intercourse, and any
person who shall aid, abet, advise, assist or encourage in such
detention shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison not more
than fifteen years nor less than five years.
Section 4581e. Any person, being the owner, lessee or occupant of any
premises, or having, in whole or in part, the management or control
thereof, who induces or knowingly permits any female under twenty-one
years of age to resort to or be in or upon such premises for the
purpose of prostitution or unlawful sexual intercourse shall be punished
by imprisonment in the state prison not more than five years nor less
than one year.
Section 4581f. Any person who shall solicit, induce, encourage or
entice, by fraudulent or deceitful representations intended or naturally
tending to induce, entice or encourage, an unmarried woman of previous
chaste character to leave her father's house or any other place where
she may be found for the purpose of prostitution or for the purpose of
unlawful sexual intercourse at a house of ill fame or assignation, and
any person who shall in any manner aid, abet or assist in any such
solicitation for such purpose shall be punished by imprisonment in the
county jail for not less than six months or by imprisonment in the state
prison not to exceed one year.
Procedure.
Present all facts regarding violation of the above statute to the
district attorney in whose county the offense is alleged to have been
committed.
WYOMING.
Wyoming has the following statutes respecting the seduction and enticing
away of females for the purpose of prostitution:
Any male person who, under promise of marriage, shall have illicit
carnal intercourse with any female of good repute for chastity, under
the age of twenty-one years, shall be deemed guilty of seduction, and
shall be imprisoned in the penitentiary not more than five years, or be
imprisoned in the county jail not more than twelve months.
Sec. 5057, Revised Statutes of Wyoming, 1899.
Whoever entices or takes away any female of good repute for chastity
from wherever she may be to a house of ill-fame or elsewhere, for the
purpose of prostitution, shall be imprisoned in the penitentiary not
more than five years, or may be imprisoned in the county jail not more
than twelve months.
Sec. 5058, Revised Statutes of Wyoming, 1899.
Whoever induces, decoys, procures or compels any female under eighteen
years of age, or causes any female over eighteen years of age, against
her will, to have sexual intercourse with any person other than himself;
or knowingly permits any other person to have sexual intercourse with
any female of good repute for chastity, upon premises owned or
controlled by him, shall be imprisoned in the penitentiary not more than
five years, or may be imprisoned in the county jail not more than six
months.
Sec. 5064, Revised Statutes of Wyoming, 1899.
Wyoming is to be commended also for having the following statute
respecting persons known as pimps:
Whoever being a male person, frequents houses of ill-fame, or of
assignation, or associates with females known or reputed as prostitutes,
or frequents gambling houses with prostitutes, or is engaged in or about
a house of prostitution, is a pimp, and shall be fined in any sum not
more than one hundred dollars, and be imprisoned in the county jail not
more than sixty days.
Sec. 5065, Revised Statutes of Wyoming, 1899.
Procedure.
Report violation to the prosecuting officer of the county in which the
crime was committed.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
A PASTOR'S PART.
By Melbourne P. Boynton, Pastor of the Lexington
Avenue Baptist Church, Chicago.
At the request of the publishers this chapter will be very largely the
relation of personal experiences in the war on the White Slave Trade.
The personal pronoun is used in obedience to instructions. After all,
that is the most useful testimony which grows out of what one has seen
and heard.
It is just twelve years since my pastorate at the Lexington Avenue
Church began. Half of that period had passed before I became really
interested and informed concerning the strange thing now so widely known
as the White Slave Traffic! What is this? Do you mean to tell me that
girls and young women are bought and sold? Is it true that vile men own
young women and live upon their earnings, the wages of sin? Is there a
market to which these girls are brought and from which they are sent
into all parts of the land? Are many of them tricked into infamous dens
through promised employment and then locked in and kept for weeks and
months and made to toil and respond to demands that at last break their
hearts and drown their hopes? Are there men who spend their whole time
traveling about the country getting acquainted with nice looking girls
in the country stores, hotels, schools and even the homes, using every
device, not stopping short of marriage, till they have sold their
victims into the life that no language can describe and no clean mind
imagine? Yes, O yes, it is more than true! When all this proved itself
to my conscience, the facts burned themselves into my very heart. The
call was so loud that response was immediate. But there were so few
trying to do anything to stop the traffic. Rescue work was being done
but the trade went on. The wicked men and women who bought and sold were
not interfered with. The laws were weak and there were many loopholes.
The workers were not of the earth's mighty and none of the churches and
ministers were actively engaged. Here and there was a mission, now and
then a Home opened, but all this was to save the sinner, who was there
to find and punish the rascals? What could be done? It was a most
discouraging and appalling task.
I remember that it was during the winter of the Spanish-American war
that Rev. J. Q. A. Henry, D. D., then pastor of the La Salle Avenue
Baptist Church of Chicago, invited me to go with himself and a friend to
investigate the conditions in the "under world." At that time Dr. Henry
was making a heroic fight on the frightful situation in the business
district. Whole streets were given over to open vice. The vilest
saloons flaunted their damning attractions in the face of every passer
by. That good Minister of God had no small part in the awakening Chicago
has since experienced. It was while with Dr. Henry that I visited for
the first time the notorious resort at 441 South Clark street. It was
then in its strength and full of pride. The madam carried a key to the
police patrol box at the corner. No secret was made of the business
carried on. The company within was friendly and tried to be
entertaining, but under all was an awful sadness, the smiles were
shallow, the whole air of the place spelled ruin. Only a few months
thereafter and that house was closed. In the autumn of 1903 it was
leased by Mr. O. H. Richards, superintendent of Beulah Home, and opened
as Beulah Home South. Into those same parlors I went on Thanksgiving
Day, 1903, and there united with a little band of Christian workers and
helped to organize a company of people that has since given to the world
the Midnight Mission in Chicago and the Illinois Vigilance Association
for the suppression of traffic in women and girls.
In that house of sin, made into a house of prayer, I first met Rev.
Ernest A. Bell, now the honored Superintendent of the Midnight Mission
and the corresponding secretary of the Illinois Vigilance Association.
It was he who suggested that the war be carried into the streets, and
led by him a few men and women ventured forth and assailed the hosts of
sin at the very doors of the brothels. The dens were invaded and men and
women warned. The City Government was appealed to and in less than two
years the business districts and Custom House Place, infamous across the
world, were cleared of open houses of shame. Where the artful scarlet
woman plied her deadly trade the streets are now full of children, and
the houses once red with sin are now shops of new citizens, who have yet
their mother tongue and the strange garb of lands across the seas.
So I was led to do what every true minister of Christ must do. I
investigated the moral conditions of my home city. Knowledge of its
culture, acquaintance with its commerce, friendship with its schools and
homes and zeal for the respectable sinner were not enough. The man who
is set to guard the moral interests of a community must go into the
deeps and darks of his city. He must know first hand what the dangers to
youth are, where the traps for girls and boys are set, what the bait
used is, how the ruin is wrought and what the remedies are. Save as he
does this his voice will not reach far, nor his protests have in them
the moral ring of the man who knows. The daring youth and the toughened
rascals soon detect whether a man talks from aroused conviction and a
pointed purpose, or whether he is just preaching in the air and saying
things that he thinks should be said.
My investigations convinced me that all thus far said was true, and far
more than any respectable man can know was terribly rampant every night
in Chicago. It was very apparent that more men and women of influence
and power must give earnest thought and much time to the solution of
this menacing problem. A Pastor's part was very clear to my mind. It is
said that the Chinese employ a physician to keep the family in good
health, he draws his fees while health obtains. That is something like
the position of a Christian minister in his community. It is his
business to promote good health, high morals, finest ideals; to rebuke
evil in all of its forms, and especially that kind of evil nearest his
own doors and in his own city. What would be thought of the physician
that spent his time playing with the children, reading fine poems to the
family, indulging in pretty speeches, but running away when dread
diseases began to show themselves, refusing to treat cancer, smallpox,
or other fearful plagues. So is the preacher who is content to do the
ordinary work of his pastorate and takes no pains to investigate the
moral and social conditions of his town. It is the sacred duty of every
pastor to know his community on its unclean and diseased side.
But I saw that such a course would open one to grave misunderstandings.
It is not according to the accepted order that a minister of a large
city church should browse around the slums and visit in the brothels.
The saloons were not a part of his expected field of labor. It was
prudent and indeed necessary that the Church should speak its own mind
in these matters. Therefore the whole problem was laid before the Board
of Deacons and later before the Church itself, with the result that the
Church voted most heartily that the Pastor should feel free to use one
day a week in such labors on behalf of the fallen and outcast as he
might feel led to do. Further the Church placed the work of the Midnight
Mission upon its regular calendar for 4 per cent of all the missionary
funds, contributions to be made quarterly towards its work, thus putting
the city-saving work on a level with every other missionary enterprise
of the denomination. So was the Pastor given the endorsement of his
people. Such action provided ample protection and was as wings for the
accomplishing of the gigantic tasks set for a small band of heroic men
and women. The Church was kept informed from time to time as to the
progress of the midnight work. Care was taken not to allow this work to
become a mere fad, but it was so presented as to rank with every other
ministry of the Church. The young people were not drawn into this type
of work at all, as it was not deemed advisable to take young people into
the streets of sin where the fight against the White Slave Traffic was
being waged. Earnest warnings were given the young folk and the young
men were especially instructed in the dangers and allurements of the
scarlet woman. Thus the Church was related to this needed warfare in
both a physical and spiritual manner. The results upon the Church are
most striking and satisfactory. It can be said with full agreement that
the outcasts need the Church, but it is equally true that the Church
needs this kind of service and without it suffers a loss of sympathy and
aggressiveness that is fatal to the peace and prosperity of the Church.
A Church ought to die fighting itself that refuses to give battle to the
White Slave Traders! Shame on the minister and the Church that is
indifferent under the revelations that are made every day showing to
what depths the vile creatures of the red light districts have sunken to
gain a little more of cruel gold! God will not hold guiltless men and
women who, hearing the stifled cries of the enslaved, heed them not! It
behooves the sons and daughters of the brave men who freed the black
slaves to rise in another and holier crusade to free the white slaves
from a bondage blacker and more damning than any the world has yet
known. Yes, it is high time that every preacher of the Gospel
investigated the conditions of his own city and town.
Country ministers have great opportunity in this warfare on behalf of
women and girls. It is in the country that the procurers work. There is
need for education, outspoken, persistent warnings that parents must be
compelled to hear. The wise and earnest words of United States District
Attorney Edwin W. Sims, found in another chapter of this book, should
be carefully pondered by all who desire to protect young womanhood. Here
the country preacher will find his cue and will be instructed as to what
he can and ought to do.
There is need that the Pastor co-operate with existing organizations
that have for their purpose the suppression of this frightful evil.
Already in nearly every city of any size there are companies of good
people banded together to wipe out the White Slave Traffic. Let the
Pastor seek out such folk and give them a hearty word of cheer. Such
action will attract other persons of influence and wealth and give
character and power to the crusade. If the folk already engaged in this
holy cause are humble, unlearned and obscure, let the man of God
remember that "He hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound
the mighty."
If the Pastor is wise there is a surprising weight of public sentiment
that will arouse at once at his call. The Press in nearly all of its
forms will aid him and give wide currency to his protests and suggested
methods. This has nowhere been more clearly shown than in the late
session of the Illinois State Legislature. Two new bills were up for
passage, they had passed the Lower House without an opposing vote and
were on the calendar of the Senate on a morning when I happened to be
present. The President of the Senate entertained a motion to send the
bills to third reading without reference to a committee, one of the
Senators was busy at his desk reading a report or something when he
became suddenly aware that some bills were passing to third reading
without the customary reference to a committee. With startled air he
arose and demanded what those bills were. The President waved his gavel
at him and said, "the White Slave Bills"! "O," said the Senator, "that's
all right," and sat down to resume the reading of his report. The bills
then passed to third reading without a sign of opposition on any man's
part. This action proved to me how very strong and immediate is the
response of the good people of any community to a call like that which
this book send up.
We have always found the police ready to help in any practical line. It
is now nearly three years since Superintendent Bell of Midnight Mission,
Miss Lucy A. Hall, a deaconess of the Methodist Episcopal Church and
myself made a thorough canvass of the red-light district and put the
Illinois Statute on White Slavery in the hands of nearly every dive
keeper, madam and many of the prostitutes themselves. This is the form
of that leaflet distributed, which had no small part in starting the
crusade against the White Slavers in Chicago.
It is a penitentiary offense to detain any woman in a house of
prostitution against her will.
The Criminal Code of Illinois makes the following provision for the
punishment of this crime against American liberty:
Sec. 57c. "Whoever shall unlawfully detain or confine any female, by
force, false pretense or intimidation, in any room, house, building or
premises in this State, against the will of such female, for purposes of
prostitution or with intent to cause such female to become a prostitute,
and be guilty of fornication or concubinage therein, or shall by force,
false pretense, confinement or intimidation attempt to prevent any
female so as aforesaid detained, from leaving such room, house, building
or premises, and whoever aids, assists or abets by force, false
pretense, confinement or intimidation, in keeping, confining or
unlawfully detaining any female in any room, house, building or premises
in this State, against the will of such female, for the purpose of
prostitution, fornication or concubinage, shall on conviction, be
imprisoned in the penitentiary not less than one nor more than ten
years."
No "white slave" need remain in slavery in this State of Abraham Lincoln
who made the black slaves free. "For freedom did Christ set us free. Be
not entangled again with the yoke of bondage," which is the yoke of sin
and evil habit.
In this canvass we had the most cordial support of the police. Captain
Harding of the 22nd Street Station detailed a detective to accompany us
and he showed us the most faithful attention.
It was in this canvass that we visited the most infamous and notorious
house in the West. The madam of this particular house told us, in the
presence of the policeman, that she had paid $160.00 each for two girls
that had been sent her from the South. She also explained how safe her
house was from violence and how free from disease, and yet, before our
conversation ceased she admitted that she had placed 105 girls in a
neighboring Christian hospital for treatment. Since then that hospital
has stopped doing this sort of business. The President of the
institution attested the truth of the woman's statement and afterward
put an end to her patronage of his hospital. Only last winter I had the
opportunity of holding a Christian service in that same house of shame.
Two of our lady workers secured permission to conduct such a meeting for
the poor girls and invited me to take charge of the service. On a Sunday
night at about 12:30 four of us went to that house and preached Christ
to some fourteen of the poor creatures. One of them, a married woman,
was rescued the next night. We had assurances that two or three others
determined to quit the evil life and go home. The meeting was such a
success, from our point of view, that the madam said she did not think
another service of the sort could be arranged. There are, however, many
places open for just such effort and Pastors that have the support of
their Churches and can find a company of faithful, sensible companions
in the work, can powerfully assault the strongholds of Satan in the dark
places of the cities. This phase of the work is difficult, delicate and
perhaps dangerous. The most fruitful and most possible kind of effort on
behalf of the outcasts is in the open air meetings, the street
gatherings, where the gospel can be sung and preached by the hour.
Crowds of men, mostly young men, stand for hours listening to the
familiar hymns and the old, old story of the Cross. Where is the Pastor
more needed than in just such gatherings? Let it be said for the Pastors
of Chicago, that the mightiest of them have counted it a joy and
privilege to preach from the curb-pulpit of The Midnight Mission. If the
list of the ministers, lawyers, judges, physicians, teachers, deacons
and other laymen was given here it would look like an honor roll of the
City of Chicago. The presence of the Pastor in this sort of work is of
value from more points of view than that of preaching alone. To see the
accepted ministers of the city in such meetings is to lift the meetings
to a plane with the Church work and worship. It gives protection to the
workers when the Pastor can not be with them. It secures the respectful
attention of the unchurched portion of the community and assures the
police that the efforts are sane, sound and determined. It should be the
purpose of every Pastor to promote such open air work for the sinful
and hopeless of his city.
The Pastor is the channel through which the people can be stirred on
these grave social questions. Let him educate his own flock and mightily
agitate his own community. In the city of London the most influential
clergymen are not hesitating to take the lead in reaching the submerged
portions of the population. Witness this testimony found in "The
Churchman" for May 2, 1908.
THE BISHOP OF LONDON AS A MIDNIGHT MISSIONARY.
"During this Lent Dr. Ingram has taken as the field of his regular
Lenten mission, the districts of central London. In addition to the many
parish churches in which he has spoken, he has given addresses in
connection with the mission at Westminster Abbey.
The last week of his work was marked by a midnight Church Army
procession, which, with brass band and torches, perambulated the most
squalid quarters of Westminster and Pimlico. For an hour and a quarter,
the Church Army workers, headed by the bishop, marched slowly in the
rain through the muddy streets, halting before the public houses
(saloons), where addresses were given by the bishop. By the time the
houses were closed the procession received large additions from the
crowds of carousing men and women, who came out of them early Sunday
morning. A meeting was held afterwards in the schoolroom of one of the
parish churches near by, where there was a half-hour of hymn singing,
and a final address by the bishop."
The Bishop of London, whom Editor Bok of The Ladies' Home Journal calls
the best loved man in England, has taken a foremost part in the purity
reform. He preaches in the slums at midnight, and on the other hand
pleads with the leaders of his church and nation to oppose with the
light of truth and the fire of earnestness the evils of impurity which
so threaten the national life. He protests in public by voice and pen
against the false modesty which keeps young people in ignorance of the
wages of sin, and so thrusts them blindfolded into the pitfalls and
traps which the evil-minded always have in readiness for the untaught
and unwary. The good bishop insists that the children and youth of the
British Isles shall know the truth, that by the truth they may be made
free. He is unsparing in his criticism of those who would have the
people go on in ignorance to their injury or ruin.
Surely every true minister of the Gospel needs only to know the
situation and become acquainted with the black facts of rampant sin, to
buckle on his armor and give battle to the hosts of iniquity. Why then
should I labor to convince my brothers in the ministry? O, Pastor,
Who-ever-you-are, investigate, co-operate and agitate until all the
slaves are free and the "mauvais sujet" are converted to Jesus or
consigned to jail!
CHAPTER XXIX.
THE STORY OF THE MIDNIGHT MISSION.
After many days and weeks of united prayer, that God would interpose
against the destruction of young girls and young men in the shameful
resorts of Chicago, I asked Miss Ella N. Rudy, on an August afternoon in
1904, at a meeting at 441 South Clark street, if she would come the next
night, with a view to holding a meeting in Custom House Place, which at
that time had half a hundred vile resorts peopled with about seven
hundred ruined girls. Miss Rudy is a woman of strong and earnest
Christian character, and I appealed to her because I knew that she would
surely come if she promised. She hesitated a moment and promised to
come. I then announced to the score of persons present that such as
would like to join us should come the next night at eight o'clock for
prayer and at ten we would go to the street. The announcement was
received with intense interest. Pastor Boynton, who was chairman of the
meeting, immediately asked permission to preach the first sermon, which
was gladly granted. Fifteen devoted people stood with him when he came
to preach.
Miss Rudy is now a missionary at Ping Nam, Kwang Sai Province, South
China. On December 7, 1908, she wrote me: