The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-13
AN ANTI-FLIRTING LAW
HOW LOVERS ARE RESTRAINED AND
HUMILIATED IN TENNESSEE.
Case of Young Chamberlain, Who Has
Johnny Law" to BE Appealed.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn, Dec I2.-At the last
sitting of the Legislature of Tennessee a
law was enacted which at the time created
quite a sensation and was the gossip Of
the State for months. The law is known
as the Johnny law and is so captioned
in the code of laws of the State. While the
law was made for the protection of a GER
tain female school in Nashville, it, of
course, applies to all parts of the State
alike, and in Knoxville it was first to be
tried on. The suit, as tried, was nothing
more or less than a case of flirting between
young man of good family and reputa-
ton and young woman of sixteen sum-
mers who happened to be attending the
city schools.
For year or more Lin Chamberlain who
is in business with his brother, W. Cham
berlain, the architect has been paying at
tentiOns to Miss Bessie Anderson. The
young man, notwithstanding that the girls
parents objected. would not go to the young
womans home, but would meet her on the
streets and at the public library This Sc
cret courtship continued for year but
never became the subject of gossip until
the opening OF the present school year,
when a passing policeman saw the young
man one day When he gently waved his
leave her associates and join him just
around the corner. This very fly" copper
posted his rurEing mate to watch the young
lovers. and then otLer cops were given
ti;t TO watch tie case. After all had seen
enough to be witnesses in court the father
OF the young woman was notified of the Sc
cret meetings, and he was given a position
in a stairway, where he saw the parties
meet, and when they were about TO take
stroll together the father stepped up and
notified the young man his daughter
was not old enough to receive and enter
tain company, and he warned the young
man to desist thereafter The watchfuI eye
OF the police officer soon detected the pair
together, and the result was that Father
Anderson took out warrant before Justice
Sellers, charging a violation of the Johnny
This law, which was passed for the hui
initiation and restraint of lovers, is as fol-
lows:
An act for the protection of boarding
schools and colleges for females, and the
principals and inmates thereof.
section l. Be it enacted by the General
Assembly of the State of Tennessee, that
hereafter it shall be unlawful for any per-
son or persons to willfully unnecessarily in
terfere with, disturb or in any way disquiet
the pupils of any school or college for fe-
males in this State, or the principals or
teachers in charge of them, while on any
pubic road or street, or in any building or
structure, or on the school premises; hOr
snail any communication be had for such
purpose with such pupils or any Of them
either orally or in writing, or by signs or
otherwise; and it shall also be unlawful for
any person to enter upon any such school
or college premises, except on business,
without first having obtained permission
from the principal in charge of same; and
every person guilty of either of said Of
lenses, shall be deemed guilty of a mis-
demeanor and, on conviction thereof, shall
pay fine Of not less than five nor more
than fifty dollars for each offense on first
conviction; and upon second and each sub
sequent conviction of a like OffenSe, shall
pay tlne of not less than ten nor more than
fifty dollars and be imprisoned at the dis
erection of the court in the county Jail, not
less than ten nor more than thirty days.
Sec. 2. Be it further enacted, that it
shall be unlawful for any person, or per-
sons, to loter wander. stand, or sit upon
the public roads, streets, alleys sidewalks,
or other. places, or to frequently and un-
necessarily pass along the same in such
manner, and with intent to annoy, veX, or
disturb the owners or occupants of premises
used for school or college purposes for edu-
second section shall be deemed guilty and
shall be fined and punished as in the first
section. Passed on March H. 1897
The trial attracted much attention and
was well attended. Young Chamberlain was
represented by his attorney and the father
of Miss Anderson was his own lawyer.
Squire Sellers, after hearing the testimony
of the five police officers and Mr.. Anderson,
decided the law had been violated, and con-
sequently bound young Chamberlain to
court who gave bond for his appearance in
the Criminal Court and was released. In
an interview Chamberlain stated that he
and the Young woman had neen sweethearts
for nearly two years. He met her secretly
because her parents objected to his coming
TO their house. The young man also says
he flirted with the girl. ne has with sew
eral others. Young Chamberlain parents
are not living, but his older brother says
he will take the case to the highest courts.
He thinks there can be no penalty for a
young man going with a young woman if
both are willing, as in this case.
Mr.. w. S. Anderson, father of the girl,
grows indignant when speaking of the case,
and says, instead of taking a warrant, he
should have taken a shotgun and ended the
young mans life. He claims that his daugh-
ter is too young to go with boys, and that
Chamberlain is not her equal in any respect
Mr.. Anderson says he notified Chamberlain
not to keep the girls company. and he pur-
poses to see that he does not do so against
his will. This case, being the first test of
the law in the State, has created consdera-
BILE interest. and the appeals to the higher
courts are watched with interest.