The Rock Island daily Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1872-1873, 1873-03-31
A FEARFUL CRIME.

a physician ol tuls city has requested Us
to publish the following act just passed by
the legislature of Minnesota, with the hope
that it will attract the attention Of our leg
islature, aud result in passing this or some
equally effective law for the punishment Of
this fearful crime alluded TO- 1t is a very
alarming evidence of decentralization of
any community when such a crime can be
committed with impunity Besides the
shocking guilt of murder which attaches
u every person connected with this crime,
the mother is murdered too. in hundreds
Of cases The attention of our representa-
tives is called to this subject as one requir-
ing the most prompt effective and strin-
gent legislation to stop its alarming in
crease,
An Act to punish abortiouists and attempts
to procure abortion, aud improper adyer-
Using in that direction
Btit cpdrtCd bg he LsgiIoter' IF me state
IF .HHHtsOfas
SECTION l. ANY person who shall adj
minister 10 any woman with child, or pre-
scribe for any such woman, or suggest %,
or advise, or procure her IN take any medl
cine drug, substance or thing whatever O
who shall use or employ. or advise or sug-
gcst the use or employment Of any nstru-
ment or other means Or force whatever,
with intent thereby 20 cause or produce the
miscarriage or abortion or premeture labor
of any such woman, unless the same shall
have been necessary % preserve her lite ~
the life Of such child shall, in case the death
Of such child or Of such woman results IN
whole or in part thcretrom be deemed
guilty Of a felony, and upon conviction
thereof, shall be punished by imprisonment
in the state prison for a term not more
than ten 10 years, nor less than three 81
years.
SIC Any person who shall admins
ter 20 any woman with child, or prescribe
or procure, or provide for any such woman
or suggest 10 or advise or procure any
such woman % take any medicine drug
substance or thing whatever, or shall use
or employ, or suggest or advise the use OF
employment Of any instrument or other
means or force whatever, with intent there.
by tu cause or procure the miscarriage OF
abortion or premature labor Of any such
woman shall upon conviction thereof be
punished by imprisonment in the state
prison for term not more than two years
nor less than one year or by fine not more
than five thousand dollars nor less than
five hundred dollars, or by such fine and
Imprisonment both at the discretion Of the
court.
SEC 3 Any woman with child who
shall apply to or solicit from any physician,
druggist or other person whOmsoever any
medicine drug substance or thing what
ever or shall submit 10 or perform upon
herself any operation of any sort or char
atter whatever. with intent thereby 70
cause or produce u miscarriage Dr abortion
or Premature labor, unless the same shall
have been necessary 20 preserve her lite or
the life Of such child or any one who shall
apply for said woman shall be deemed
guilty Of misdemanor and upon con-
victlon thereof shall be punished by i'm
prlsOument IN the county Jail for Il term
not more than two years nor less than
three months or by fine not exceeding one
thousand dollars nor less than three hun
dred dollars, or by such fine and imprison-
ment both at the discretion Of the court
SIC. 4. Any person who shall know
lngly advertise print publish, distri-
butte or circulate In any form, or shall
knowingly cause % be advertised
printed, published, distributed or circu-
lated in any form any book, pamphlet,
circular printed paper, newspaper
notice, advertisement or reference contain
ing language or words or characters giving
or conveying any notice, hint or reference
10 any person, or 10 the name Of any per.
son real or fictitious, from whom or 10 any
house, shop, store office OF other place
Whatever where any poison, drug. mix
ture, preparation, medium or noxious
thing or any instrument or means what
ever, or any advice direction. information
or knowledge may be- obtained for the pur
pose oil causing or procuring the miscar
rage OF abortion, or premature labor q
any woman pregnant with child. shall M
on conviction thereof be punished by i'm
pris0nment IN the State prison for nc
more than two years, or in the county ia
for a period not less than three months. {
by fine not more than five hundred dollar
nor less than one hundred dollars, or b
such fine and imprisonment both at tn
discretion Of the court.
Sec 8. On any preliminary examinatio
and on any inquiry before a grand jur,
and on the trial Of any indictment for an
alleged ohense under this act, no perst
shall be protected from testifyinp as a wi
ness TOR the rerson that the testimony
such witness would tend to criminate
disgrace such witness Provided, ho'
ever, that no testimony SO given Of cha
acter tending TO crlminate or disgrace SUI
witness shall ever be- used in evidence
any action, prosecution or proceeding, CT
or criminal against such witness OF again
his OF her personal representatives.
Sec. 6. All prosecutions under this {
shall be commenced within two years at
the commission of the offence.
Sec. Z. Section eleven (ll) of chap
ninety four (94) Of the general statutes
the State of Minnesota is hereby repeal'
Provided, however that such repeal sh
not affect prosecutions Hereunder n
pending, nor any prosecution that N
hereafter be commenced for violations
said section heretofore committed, in
spect to all which said section shall be a
remain in force as if this act had not b'
passed
Sec. S, This act shall take effect and
III iolce from aud after its passage.
approved March 10, 1873.
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