Chap. 61.—An ACT to amend and re-enact section 2257 of the none of
Virginia as heretofore amended. (S. B. 180.)

Approved February 17, 1916.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That
section twenty-two hundred and fifty-seven of the Code of Vir-
ginia as heretofore amended, be amended and re-enacted to read
as follows:

Sec. 2257. Divorces from Bond of Matrimony.—A divorce
from the bond of matrimony may be decreed for adultery; for
natural or incurable impotency of body existing at the time of
entering into the matrimonial contract; where either of the
parties subsequent to the marriage has been sentenced to con-
finement in the penitentiary of this State or of any other State
of the United States or to confinement in a penitentiary of the
United States, and cohabitation has not been resumed after such
confinement (in which case no pardon granted to the party so
sentenced shall restore such party to his or her conjugal rights) ;
where, prior to the marriage, either party, without the know-
ledge of the other, had been convicted of an infamous offense
and where either party charged with an offense punishable with
death or confinement in the penitentiary has been indicted, is
a fugitive from justice, and has been absent for two years;
where either party, wilfully deserts or abandons the other for
three years such divorce may be decreed to the party abandoned;
and where, at the time of the marriage, the wife without the
knowledge of the husband was with child by some person other
than the husband, or prior to such marriage had been, without
the knowledge of her husband, a prostitute, such divorce may
be decreed to the husband; but no such divorce shall be decreed
if it appears that the party applying for the same has cohabited
with the other after knowledge of such conviction of an infa-
mous offense or has cohabited with the wife after knowledge
ot the fact that she was with child or had been a prostitute as

oresaid.