Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-04-19
PROPERTY OWNERS LIABLE
TO SEVERE PENALTIES
Measure to Combat Social Evil Drastic
in the Extreme-Lewd Women Must
Reform or Get Out of the State
Prosecution of Owners of Building
an Important Feature.
Special to Times-Republican.


sorts on and after July 4. when the law
recently enacted by the legislature goes
into effect. 1t is given out officially
that the women of the under world
will either be obliged to leave the
state, or change their condition of life.
The law puts people who rent property
egory as the unfortunate woman whose
evil operations it is designed TO pre-
vent, so that property owners will be
wise who exercise extreme care in Sc
lection of tenants. The principal sec
tons OF the law are as follows:
The New Law.
Sec. 1.-Whoever shall erect es-
tablish, continue, MAINTAIN, use, own
or lease any building, erection or place
for the purpose of lewdness, assigna-
ton or prostitution is guilty of a nuis-
ance. and the building, or the ground
itself. are also declared a nuisance, and
shall be enjoined and abated as here
matter provided.
Sec. 2-Whenever nuisance is
kept, maintained or exists, as defined
in this act, the county attorney or any
citizen of the county may maintain
an action in equity in the name of the
state Of Iowa, to perpetuany enjoin said
nuisance, the person or persons con-
Quoting or maintaining the same, and
the owner or agent of the building or
ground In such action the court, or
| Judge in vacation, shall allow a tenn
| porary writ of injunction without bond.
Three days notice in writing shall be
given the defendant of the hearing of
| the application, and if then continued
at his instance, the writ as prayed shall
/ be granted as a matter of course. When
an Injunction has been granted, il shall
! be binding on the defendant thruour
the judicial district in which it was is
sued, and any violation of the provis-
ions of injunction herein provided shall
be a contempt as hereinafter provided.
Sec. 3.-The action when brought
shall be triable at the first term of
court, ana in such action evidence of
the general reputation of the place
shall be admissible for the purpose of
proving the existence of said nuisance.
If the complaint is filed by a citizen,
it shall not be dismissed except upon
sworn statement made by the COM
plainant and his attorney setting forth
the reasons why the action should be
dismissed and the dismissal approved
by the county attorney in writing or
in open court If the court is of the
opinion that the action ought not to be
dismissed, he may direct the county
attorney to prosecute said action to
j judgment, and, if the action is contin-
I ued more than ore term of court, any
citizen of the county or the county
attorney may be substituted for the
complaining party and prosecute said
| action to judgment.
Punishment.
Sec. An case of the violation Of
| any injunction granted under the pro.
| visions of this act. the court, or in va
cation. a judge thereof, may summari.
ly try and punish the offender. A par.
ty found guilty Of contempt under the
provisions of this section, shall be pun
ished by fine of not less than 500
nor more than $1,000 or by imprison
ment in the county Jail not less THAI
three nor more than six months, or b.
| both fine and imprisonment
Sec 5.-If the existence of tn
nuisance be established in an actor
as provided in this act, an order O
III abatement shall be entered as a par
of the judgment in the case, which or
J der shall direct the removal from tn
: building or place of all fixtures, fur
niture, musical instruments or NOV
able property used in conducting tn
nuisance, and shall direct the sal
thereof in the manner provide
for the sale of chattels under execu
, ton, and the effectual closing of tn
building or place against its use fo
y any purpose, and so keeping it close
for period of one year, unless soone
Sc released.
= Section If the owner appears an
pays all costs Of the proceeding, an
files bond with sureties to be az
~ proved by the clerk in the full vail
Of the property, to be ascertained
the court, or in vacation, by the cler
auditor and treasurer of the count
conditioned that he will immediate
abate said nuisance and prevent Il
same from being established or Ike,
therein within a period OF one We;
thereafter the court, may, if satisft
of his good faith, order the prenis
closed under the order of abateme
to be delivered to said owner.
Also Taxed.
Section S--Whenever a permane
nd injunction issues against any pers,
for maintaining nuisance as here
defined or against any owner or age
Of the building kept or used for t
purpose prohibited by this act, the
]. shall be assessed against said bull
ing and the ground upon which t
same is located and against the pc
son or persons maintaining said nj
sance, and the owner or agent of sa
premises, tax Of 5000. Said tax sh
be a. perpetual lien upon all proper
both personal and real, used for t
- purpose of maintaining said unisan
and the payment of said tax shall 4
relieve the person or building fri
any other penalties provided by la
The provisions Of the law relating
. the collecting and distribution Of t
we mulct liquor tax shall govern in I
lat collection and distribution of the I
lily herein prescribed IN 80 far as the sal
M fare applicable. and not in conflict w
lu- the provisions Of this act.
9Th "