Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1863-02-27
AN ACT 10 Pr uIBIr ExronrIoN AND
PUNISH ExroRrIoNEns.

AN ACI 10 Pr 1IIBIT ExroRTIoN AND
PUNISH ExroRrIoNEns.
/. BE ii enacted, ty the Senate and
House Of Representatives now met and
sitting i'll General Assembly and by the
authority Of the samc, Thnt from and after
tic passing Of this Ac, any dealer or spec
u'ator in clothing or materials of clothing
boots, shoes, leather, brogans, raw hides,
meat, grain, iron, flour, fish, C fife, sugar,
tea, salt, salt-pe'rc, drugs, medicines, wool,
yarn, 'r"n-castings, nails and hardware
generally, gold and silver coin, wool coal,
c'"dlos, oil, lard, SOAP cattle, hoee. and
other live stock, poultry, sterling exchange,
or other neccssaries Of life, whatever, or
Hly manufacturer Tor sale Of any ofthc said
a'feies, who shall, during the continuance
OF IN existing wa' Sci! Or dispose CT Any of
the said articles, at cxholbitan or unrcas-
"n"h'e rates or prices, or IAN cxhorbitant
Or unre 'scnable advance or profit on tie
cost thereol,or cost Of the production or
manufacture thereof, or shall refuse 10 sell
! or dispose Of TIE same, for cash, either in
! spccl" or in current fluids, ut fair or reason.
40 e rates or prlcca, or at reasonable advan.
ces or prof on the cost thereof. or cost of
! 'Ee production or manufacture thereof, and
: all other persons who shall sell or dispose
! "i any OF the S:id articles at cyhorb:ant or
! unreasonable rates or prices, or ut on ex-
; horbitant Or unreasonable advance or profit
! on the cost, or cost Of the production or
I manufacture thereof, shall be deemed and
hcld guilty of cxtoiti"n, and on conviction
thereof i'll any Of The Courts OF General Scs.
'ions oi this State, shall bc fined no: more
than one thousand dolar,, and be impris-
oncd not more than twelve mouths one
! half of The fine in each case to he for III,
! benefit of the informcr, and the other hal
/; Tor the benefit Of soldiers and stamcrs' fam
, lies, to he paid over to the Soldiers Boart
, OF Relief Tor the District in which the con
v1ct'on shall take place and the informe1
TO &c competent witness, any law custom
or uSuage to the contrary nor xthstandinu
: Prort"ed, That no importer OF foreign me,
chand'ze shall be laJl" to the penalties O
this Act for sales Of such merchandise
In" prDriaed. .furthcr, That persons bring
ing INTO this State articles Of food from
Other States and selling the same at pricc
not higher than those charged by produ
GERS III this State, shall not be liable to the
penalties Of this Act.
ii. That in all cases arising under thi
Act, 1t shall he left to the Jurles TO deter
mine what are cxhorhi:ant ar unreasonable,
rates or prices, or exhorbitant or unrcason
able advances or pr'fits, due regard being
had to the circumstances OF pach case ant
1t shall hc lawful for the Court Of Appcal
to review the facts OF all such cases and t,
set aside vcrdicts and order now trials 20
want of confo, nifty thereto.
III. That no pelson prosecuted nnde
'hi' -,.'' shall be allowed any right 0
privilege OF traverse or Importance, or post
ponement Of trial at the first term of the
Court IN which hc shall be indicted, unless
on affidavit of the necessary absence of ;
material and necessary witness, and II.
technical or formal exception 10 a:y rro
cess indictment or other pleading shall a
vail thc Defendant but each case shall bt
tried and adjusted according to the merit:
without any regard to form: Proridcd
That any ons who shall wiI!ulIy and ma
ic'onsly give false information, as the basis
OF II prosecution under this Act, shall b;
liable to indicmcu: therefor, and shall, OF
conviction thereof: he subject to the pen
ali''s Of this Act.
~. Corporations. by their corporate
names and co'porators Of incorporated
companies, shall he !iaLle to indictment an,
punishment for cxtor,ion under this Act
and when corporations are indicted ant
convicted OF extortion, they shall he liable
to fine rs aforesaid, and to forfeiture O
charter at the discretion Of the Court.