Chap. 192.—An ACT to Prevent the Seduction of Females, and Amending
and Re-enacting the 16th Section of Chapter 191, in reference to the
Abduction of Females.

Approved March 19, 1873.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly, That any person
who shall, under promise of marriage, seduce and have illicit
connexion with any unmarried female of previous chaste char-
acter, shall be guilty of a felony, and upon conviction thereof
shall be punished by confinement in the penitentiary not less
than one nor more than ten years: provided, that the subse-
quent marriage of the parties may be pleaded in bar of a con-
viction. |

2. That section sixteen of chapter one hundred and ninety
one be re-enacted so as to read as follows:

§ 16. 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 ab-
duction for such purpose shall be guilty of a felony, and shall
upon conviction thereof be punished by confinement in the
penitentiary not less than one nor more than five years: pro-
vided, that no conviction under this act shall be had on the
testimony of the female seduced or abducted, unsupported by
other evidence, nor unless the indictment shall be found within
two years after the commission of the offence; and provided
further, that the subsequent marriage of the parties may be
pleaded in bar of a conviction.

3. This act shall be in force from the first day of July,
eighteen hundred and seventy-three.