The tribune. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1875-06-16
AN ORDINANCE.

An Ordinance protecting Public Morality,
Deccmcy and Order, and prociding penalties
for r'olation Of the same.
Sec. L. Be it ordained by the Intendant
and Wardens of the Town of Beaufort
In council assembled; That any person or
persons who shall keep any brothel or
house of ill-fame within the limits of the
Town OF Beaufort, by keeping therein
any person or persons for tho purpose of
prostitution, or suffer, or permit any such
to resort thereto for that purpose, any
such persons so offending, shall on con.
vict1on thereof, forfeit and pay to said
town penalty not exceeding one hun
dred dollars with the costs of prosecu-
tlon, or to be imprisoned not EXCEEDING
thirty days. or both, in the discretion Of
the lntendant; and every days contin-
uance of such house of lll-fame shall be
distinct and separate offence within the
meaning of this section.
Sec. III. Any female person who shall
reside In any brothel or house of i'll. fame
IN said town, or shall resort thereto for
the purpose of prostitution, or who shall
prostitute herself, or use any indecent or
lasciv'ous language, gesture or behaviour
on che public streets to entice persons
for any of the aforesaid purposes, shall on
CONVICTION thereof forfeit and pay to the
SAID town the sum of not less than five
ollars nor more than fifty dollars, with
cost OF prosecution. or be imprisoned for
not more than thirty days, or both, in the
discretion of the Intendant.
Sec: III. That any male person of the
age OF fourteen years or upwards, who
snail reside III any such brothel or house
OF ll-fame in said town, or who shall
resort thereto, in the character of servant.
musician, boarder or lodger, or otherwise,
for the purpose of aiding, assisting, or
abettlng or encouraging the owner or
keeper of such house, or the females who
reside therein or who resort thereto for
the purpose of whoredom, shall upon
conviction thereof forfeit and paw anv
sum not exceeding twenty dollars and
costs or be imprisoned for not more than
twenty days, or both, in the discretion of
the Intendant.
Sec. Nv. That any person or persons
within said Town, who shall for the
purpose of prostitution, harbor, or keen
about his, her or their house anv lewd dis
solute woman, prostitute, or common
strumpet, such person or persons, shall.
on conviction thereof, forfeit and pay TO
the Town any sum not exceeding twenty
dollars and costs, or be imprisoned not
more than thirty days, or both, in the
discretion of the Intendant.
Sec. V. ANY person being the owner
or occupant of, or the agent for the rent
ing of any building within this town,
who shall knowingly rent such building
to be used as house of iIl-fame or pros
titution, or shall permit the same to be
used rent free, for that purpose, shall on
conviction thereof, be fined in any sum
not less than twenty dollars and costs, or
be Imprisoned not more than thirty days,
or both, in the decretion of the Intendant;
and proof that the lessor, owner or agent
was apprised of the previous bad char
acter OF the lessee or lessees shall be suffi-
cient evidence that the lessee, owner or
agent, was apprlsed of the previous pur
pose to which such house or building was
to he applied; and any and al! persons
who shall continue to rent or lease any
house or building for the purposes aforc-
SAID after the passage Of this Ordinance,
shall be subject to the fine and penalty
prescribed in this section.
Sec. vi. For the purpose of suppress
Ing houses of ill-famc and prostitution.
the Town Marshal, police or any 9th
person or persons authorized by the
intendant or Town Council are hereby
authorized to enter, at any time. with or
without process, any house of ill-famc or
prostitution within the town limits. and
arrest the occupants thereof, and all
persons found therein who shall have
visited he place for the purpose of pros.
tltution or whorcdom, and every occu.
pant thereof, and all persons found visit
ing therein shall De fined not more than
nlty dollars or be imprisoned not more
tnan thirty days. or both, in the discre-
ton OF the Intendant, and every person
round In any such house of iIl-fame. not
being an occupant thereof, shall be pres
umed to have visited the same for the
purpose Of prostitution or whoredom.
Sec. VII. For the purpose of carving
out the provisions of this ordinance. the
Marsha', or police or other person or per-
sons authorized are hereby empowered
and authorized upon affidavit or com.
p'alGt OF any citizen, or by resolution of
the Town Council, or upon the warrant
OF the Intendant, to break open tb,
doors OF any house Of ill fame in case
they or either of them (having first
announced their official characterJ shall
be refused admission or prevented from
peaceably entering such house.
Sec. VIII. This ordinance shall he In
force Immediately on and after Its pas.
sage.
Ratified IN Council this second dav
of June, A. d. 1875.
Alfred Williams,
Intcndant.
Geo. w. Roberts,